Blue Sox hold off Mountaineers for 1st road win of 2015
By Kaitlin Corbett (Photo Credit: Vermont Mountaineers)
MONTPELLIER, VT—Perry Kulaga took the hill for the Valley Blue Sox in their second game of the season and the first road game of the season against the Vermont Mountaineers at Recreation Field.
The Blue Sox came out swinging in the top of the first, with a leadoff single from left-fielder Nick Sinay. Rob Pescitelli doubled to score the first run of the game, and John Adryan batted in another run on a groundout in his first appearance with the Blue Sox.
Kulaga started off strong, recording both of his two strikeouts in the bottom of the first inning. Kulaga worked through a tough jam in the second, allowing just one run.
Mountaineers starting pitcher Tom Cosgrove held the Blue Sox scoreless in the second after giving up two runs in the first, but that trend wouldn’t last long.
The Blue Sox tacked on two more runs in the third inning after Chris Gonzalez shot an RBI double into right field and John Adryan blooped a single into shallow center for his second RBI of the night.
Cosgrove’s night was done after pitching four innings and giving up four runs to the Sox.
Kulaga experienced a little trouble in the bottom of the fourth, when a pitch got away from catcher Manny Pazos allowing a run to score, and bringing the Mountaineers within two of the Blue Sox.
Kulaga’s night would end after the fifth inning, when he gave up two more runs to tie the game. Kulaga went five innings, surrendering four runs with two strikeouts and zero walks.
In the top of the seventh, the Blue Sox offense reignited when Cornell Nixon lined a leadoff single. Nick Sinay walked, and after a double-steal the Blue Sox were threatening with runners on second and third.
But it was Manny De Jesus who sealed the deal for the Blue Sox when he hammered a double, scoring both runners and putting the Sox up 6-4.
Drew Lunde and Sam Delaplane finished out the game for the Mountaineers, with Lunde giving up the tie-breaking runs to the Blue Sox in the seventh inning, and Delaplane holding the Blue Sox scoreless through the final 2.2 innings.
The bullpen was dominant for the Blue Sox through the final four innings with pitchers Billy Worswick, Tyler Barss and Sam Donko holding the Mountaineers scoreless through 3.3 innings.
The top of the lineup was solid for the Blue Sox as Nick Sinay went 2-3 with two walks and two stolen bases and Manny De Jesus went 2-5 with three RBIs.
The Blue Sox take on the North Adams SteepleCats at home on Saturday for Public Safety Night Presented by Skip’s Outdoor Accents and will hand the ball to left-hand pitcher Mason Ward (Kennesaw State) for the start. Game time is set for 6:35.
