'Sox Falter in Loss to Winchester
By: Matt Becker
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After taking a break for America’s 250th birthday, the Tom Sox are back in action at CHO Airport Field as it takes on the Winchester Royals. Today’s game would be a mutually agreed-upon 7-inning game.
The ‘Sox are two games under .500 after falling by one run to the Staunton Braves on Friday night. Charlottesville is 1-3 against the North Division this year, with the most recent loss at Front Royal.
Clayton Armah would take the hill against Ian Kaiser for the Royals, looking to get his numbers up.
Let’s see how the game went:
In the top of the first, Armah stranded runners at first and second with a strikeout. It was an important inning for Armah and the Tom Sox after the team blew the last game in the 9th inning, and Armah was trying to settle in from his last start.
After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the first, Tommy Landsnes walked with two outs and stole second and third. Caiden Combs (Auburn) was at the plate with a full count and chopped a ball between the third baseman and shortstop for an RBI single to make it 1-0.
Allowing the first batter to reach in the second inning via a walk, Armah struck out three straight batters to retire the side.
In the third inning, the Royals finally got their first run of the game after a runner made it to third on a walk, a stolen base and an error. Jaime Padilla grounded out to bring the runner home and tie the game.
In the top of the fourth, Garrison Wight took the mound, ending the day for Armah. The right-handed starter went three innings, allowed no hits, allowed one run (no earned runs), walked four, and struck out five.
To start the bottom of the fourth, Combs swung at the first pitch he saw and ripped it down the left-field line for a stand-up double.
Brayden Bachman (East Carolina) battled with a two-strike count and then scorched a ball into left field to give the Tom Sox the lead.
In the top of the fifth, Henry Knighton (George Washington) toed the rubber and immediately let up a first-pitch bunt single for the Royals' first hit of the game.
After an error and a flyout, Zach Fortman scored on a wild pitch with two outs to tie the game at two. An unfortunate inning for the ‘Sox, featuring wild throws and pitches to even the game up.
After the fifth-inning stretch, Harrison Campi (Wofford) recorded his first hit as a Tom Sox as he flared one to right field. Grayson McCollum (Kennesaw State) smacked a double to right-center field to put runners at second and third.
Logan Bower was set to deliver a pitch to Chase Jackson and balked in the run from third to give the ‘Sox the lead. Another pitching mishap followed as Bower threw a wild pitch to bring home McCollum and make it 4-2.
Combs followed suit with an RBI groundout to extend the lead to three with only two innings left.
Chris Fortunato (Stevenson) would take the mound for the ‘Sox in the top of the sixth. After setting down the first two batters, Fortunato walked two straight batters and had to find a way to escape. The right-handed reliever forced a fly ball to center field to retire the side.
After the ‘Sox went down in order, Fortunato remained on the mound looking for the save. Fortunato walked the leadoff batter and allowed a hit to put two runners on. After an out, two runs would come across on two separate errors.
Fortunato was taken out for Eric Davis (Roanoke), trying to get the save. After allowing a walk to the first batter, JP Williams singled to left and the game was tied. Another single and a bunt gave the Royals a two-run lead.
The Tom Sox went down one-two-three to end the game by a final score of 7-5.
UP NEXT: The Tom Sox and the league will take a two-day rest for the All-Star Showcase, and the ‘Sox will be back in action on Wednesday against Culpeper. It will be an important game for both teams in the race for the playoffs.
