Prevail 10-9 to force rubber game in best-of-three Twi League semifinal
MIKE COOMBS had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two runs in the Brewers 10-9 victory in Game 2 of their best-of-three Twi-League semifinal series last night at Moulton Field. Game 3 is tomorrow night at Moulton.(Donna Larsson File Photo)
Published in the August 8, 2016 edition.
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — The Brewers beat the Expos 10-9 last night at Moulton Field to pull even in their best-of-three Twi League series 1-1.
At one point the Brewers held a 9-4 lead but saw it squandered thanks to some defensive lapses. Still, they held on to force a third and deciding game.
The Brewers took an early lead scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tom Leahy led off with a walk and then Mike Coombs followed with a single to left. Steve Halsey hit a ball to center that was misjudged by Chris McNall, allowing Coombs and Leahy to score to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
The Expos managed to get one run back in the top of the second. Dave McDonald drew a lead-off walk. Mike Cannata hit a double to left that Leahy misplayed for an error that scored McDonald and made it 2-1. But that would be all of the scoring for the inning.
In the third inning the Expos pulled ahead on the strength of three runs scored. McNall opened the inning by dropping a single behind the second base bag that fielders seemed confused about as to whose ball it was. Nick Roberto singled to center and then Andrew Worden singled in McNall. McDonald singled to load the bases and, after a strikeout, Dennis DiCicco singled to right to bring in Roberto and Worden and give the Expos a 4-2 lead.
The Brewers broke the game open in the fourth inning with seven runs, or so it seemed at the time.
Joe Greer led off with a double left and then Mike Fiore followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Fiore then stole second and Zack Thomas followed with a walk to load the bases. Leahy reached on an infield single in the hole at shortstop, scoring Greer. With the bases loaded again, Coombs singled to left to score Fiore and Thomas and make it 5-4 in the Brewers favor.
Halsey then doubled down the left field line to score Leahy. Danny O’Brien took over on the mound for the Expos, relieving starter Steve Grasso and Mike Greer hit a soft grounder to him that seemed to be an easy play. However, O’Brien’s soft toss to first was high, pulling McDonald off the bag for an error. Coombs scored on the play and then Greer soon stole second. After a strikeout, Darren Bisso singled to center to score Halsey and Greer, putting the Brewers up 9-4, where it stood at the end of the inning.
The Expos came within a run of the Brewers in the sixth inning, thanks to some Brewers defensive miscues. With one out, Roberto and Worden reached on consecutive errors. Instead of being out of the inning, McDonald doubled down the left field line to score Roberto and Worden. Cannata was hit by a pitch and then DiCicco singled to left to score McDonald. Derek Bruzzese was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then O’Brien reached on an infield single off the pitcher’s glove, scoring Cannata to make it 9-8. But subsequent ground balls kept the Expos from tying the game.
The Brewers picked up an insurance run in the sixth inning and it turned out to be the winning run. Halsey led off with a double and, after a ground out to third, Halsey scored on a single to center to make it 10-8 before two strikeouts ended the inning.
The Expos clawed back once again for another run in the top of the seventh inning.
Roberto drew a leadoff walk and Worden followed with a single to left. After a pop up to second, Cannata reached on a fielder’s choice with Roberto being forced out at third. Dennis Dicicco singled to left to score Worden and make it 10-9. Anthony Bruzzese was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. O’Brien hit a ground ball to the right side that struck Bruzzese in the base path for an automatic out, the third of the inning, thus securing the win for the Brewers.
The third and deciding game is tomorrow night at 5:45 p.m. at Moulton Field.
