Bluejays Pound Tigers
6/19/13
Anytime a team's starting pitcher only makes it 1/3 of an inning, it's bound to be a tough night for that team. This was certainly the case on Wednesday night as Springfield played host to Essig. After two innings, the Bluejays held a 12-1 lead as they coasted to a 14-5 victory.
Matt Vogel took the ball for the Tigers. He had a hard time locating the strike zone, issuing walks to the first three batters of the game. Dusty Fleck singled to start the scoring. The defense had been on the field for a long time. This led to an error and another run. A popout, followed by two additional singles meant an early exit for Vogel. Mike Salazar took over the mound duties and got a popup for the second out. Essig kept pouring it on as the order turned over. Tim Kehren stroked a two-run single. Ryan Weier followed with a two-run double to make the score 8-0 after a half-inning of play.
In the bottom of the first, Alex Fink drew a two-out walk from Essig starter Eric Scheibel. Ryan Sturm and Jacob Menage followed with singles to bring him around to score and get the Tigers on the board. An Essig error continued the inning and it looked like a high scoring game could be in store for both clubs, but a fielder's choice ended the threat.
After batting thirteen in the first, Essig's four run second inning seemed tame. They were again aided by a Springfield error. The biggest hit of the inning was Weier's second two-run two-bagger of the game, making the score 12-1.
Scheibel settled in after escaping the bottom of the first, facing just three batters in the second through fourth innings. With the game appearing as though the ten-run rule might end it, the Tigers went to the bench in the bottom of the fifth. The subs provided some spark as Springfield put together four singles in the inning to score two runs to get within nine, 12-3.
A leadoff walk and two more hits gave Springfield their fourth run of the night in the sixth. The Bluejays got a run in the top of the seventh, thanks to a Larry Haala double to start things. Fink worked a three-up, three-down eighth inning on the mound. Alex Frank worked a tune-up inning in the ninth, allowing one unearned run. Essig turned things over to left-hander Sam Hansen for the final two innings. Fink's third hit of the night, followed by an Isaac Kirschstein double and a sac fly made the final 14-5.
Alex Fink led the way for the Tigers with three hits. Isaac Kirschstein and Jacob Menage added two hits each. Marc Salazar, Ryan Sturm, Zach Bisel, Max Salazar, and Mike Salazar all added one hit each for the home team. Essig had a pair of batters with three hits on the night in Tim Kehren and Larry Haala. Ryan Weier and Kyle Krzmarzick also had multi-hit games with two apiece. Eric Scheibel picked of the win, working seven innings, allowing four earned runs on ten hits with five strikeouts. Matt Vogel took the loss, going just one-third of an inning, allowing seven runs, four earned, on three hits and issuing three free passes.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in league play. Springfield began the season 7-0 overall, but has hit a rough stretch, going 2-5 over the next seven games. The Tigers look to get back in the win column when they host Youth Night on Friday night. The Hanska Lakers come to town for a 8pm contest. All kids 14 and under receive a free hot dog, plus opportunities to participate in games and prize drawings throughout the game. After the game kids are invited on the field to run the bases and play catch with their favorite Tiger players! Hope to see you there!
NOTES: The eight run first inning was the second time this season the Tigers have allowed eight runs in a single inning. The other came in the fifth and final inning against Nisswa in Springfield's second game of the Omann Insurance Invitational...Alex Fink is on a tear. Fink has put up multi-hit games in five of the last six contests. He has gone 12 for 22 over that stretch for a .545 clip.
Scorecard
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essig | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 7 |
| Springfield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 10 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilhelmi, C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Ma. Salazar, 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fink, SS/P/RF | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2B |
| Sturm, 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kirschstein, 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2B |
| Menage, RF/2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | SAC |
| Loomis, 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scheffler, 2B/SS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bisel, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| C. Milbrath, CF | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Anderson, LF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mx. Salazar, LF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Vogel, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Mi. Salazar, P/2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Brandl, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Frank, P | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 38 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 6 | ||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ||
| Vogel (L, 1-1) | 1/3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
| Mi. Salazar | 6 2/3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| Fink | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Frank | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Pictures
