Celebrating Elk Grove Babe Ruth's 50th Season on Saturday Nights at Bartholomew Park!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Impressive Pitching Reigns in 9-4 Ironbirds' Victory

( Preview / Box Score )

On another windy night at Bartholomew Park, the pre-game lineup cards of both the Hooks and the Ironbirds planted visions of a tremendous pitching match-up in the heads of spectators from both teams. But, although the strikeouts piled up on both sides and base-runners were at a premium, it was the Ironbirds that broke through with rallies in the third and fifth innings, leading them to a 9-4 victory over the Hooks in the sixth Saturday Game of the Week.

Ganzler recorded 8 of 9 outs via strikeout. He also tripled.
In the first two innings, both teams manufactured runs without the aid of their hitting shoes. After a top of the first in which Ironbirds' starting pitcher Kenny Ganzler struck out the side looking, the Ironbirds drew first blood in the bottom half. Lead-off man Quentin Kennell lined a single to right to open the inning, but he was forced out at second on a fielders' choice by Dominick Babich. Babich, though, took second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and, on the 3-0 pitch to Sam Richardson, drew a throw from the catcher that allowed him to steal home easily to make it 1-0.

In the second, both teams were able to scratch across runs in similar fashion. Nate Abeid got things rolling in the top half on a hit-by-pitch, and he then proceeded to steal second and third, the latter drawing a wild throw that got by third base and allowed him to score the tying run. In the bottom half, the Ironbirds used the same formula, as Patrick Walker was plunked, moved to second on a single by Tyler Kelly, and then stole third to draw a wild throw, allowing him to score and make it 2-1.

Although the offense would not be done, Ganzler made even a minute lead secure with a dominant performance on the mound. After Abeid scored, Ganzler struck out five of the next six hitters, and, over three superb innings of work, he totaled eight strikeouts while walking one and plunking one but surrendering no hits. He needed only 44 pitches, 29 of them strikes, in an appearance which showed the skill that earned him a mid-season promotion to Sheldon's varsity team as a sophomore. The only out not recorded via strikeout was when Richardson gunned down Cody Tanner on a steal attempt.

Stayner struck out 9 in four innings and had a 2-run single.
With Ganzler dealing, the Ironbirds' offense got rolling during their second time through the order against the Hooks' southpaw starter JD Stayner. After recording four strikeouts in his first two innings but allowing two runs, the third inning started out roughly for the Hooks' ace. Kennell grounded a comebacker to Stayner, but his throw to first was wild and that, combined with Bartholomew Park's spacious foul territory, allowed the speedy Kennell to end up on third standing up. Babich then reached on an infield single to plate Kennell before Ganzler helped his own cause when he bombed a line drive triple to the fence in centerfield. Richardson then roped an RBI single to left field to culminate a rally that turned a 2-1 battle into a comfortable 5-1 lead.

Despite the barrage of hits, though, Stayner locked in and regained control of the game. In the third, he escaped further damage by striking out Dheaven Hutchinson and Kelly, and, in the fourth, he made sure that his team stayed in the game by striking out the side on twelve pitches. In four excellent innings of work, Stayner struck out nine hitters.

Kennell provided more hitless relief with 2 2/3 IP and 5 Ks.
After Ganzler wrapped up his day, it was Kennell charged with holding the lead, and he was more than up to the task. In the fourth, Kennell opened his relief appearance with consecutive strikeouts and then pitched around an error to finish the frame. In the fifth, it was more of the same, starting the inning by freezing Matt Walter on a called third strike before retiring Abeid and Tanner around a two-out walk to imposing slugger Irv Arellano.

The Ironbirds put up another crooked number in the fifth when Babich walked, Ganzler singled him home, Richardson tripled home another run, and Hutchinson doubled and later scored on a throwing error to increase the lead to a resounding 9-1 margin.

In the sixth, then, Kennell looked to be cruising again after his fourth and fifth strikeouts of the night to open the inning, but a walk to Cyle Ayers and an error at third base kept the inning going for the Hooks, who showed they had a rally of their own still to come. With the bases loaded, Nick Beardo walked in a run to make it 9-2, prompting the Ironbirds to make the call to the bullpen for Richardson. On his fourth pitch of the night, though, Stayner rocked a two-run single to right field that brought the score to 9-4 and broke up what had been a no-hitter by the Ironbirds. But, after a walk to Ortega, Richardson settled down and got the strikeout to the end the threat.

Abeid reached twice, including a big double, in a losing effort.
In the seventh inning, the Hooks looked to have the offense going when Abeid crushed a shot into the gap in left-center. But, pouncing on it quickly, Walker threw a seed to Hutchinson at short and the relay throw to Kennell at third was perfect to nail Abeid and short circuit the inning before it could get started.

For the Hooks, Walter had four strikeouts in two innings out of the bullpen, while Rudy Bermudez and Bryce Anderson each scored runs.

After a break for Memorial Day weekend, the Game of the Week will return with the surging Knights taking on the much-improved Storm.