Manchester Silkworms beat the North Adams SteepleCats 3-2
In what could only be described as a wild and weird game from Joe Wolfe Field, the Manchester Silkworms pushed across two unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning, lifting them to a 3-2 win over the North Adams SteepleCats.North Adams jumped on the board in the first inning with a little bit of small ball. Kevin Carby reached to lead off the game with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by T. J. Greig. On a 1-0 pitch to John Malloy, Carby broke for third. The throw glanced off the glove of the Silkworms’ third baseman and rolled away allowing Carby to scamper home for a 1-0 SteepleCats lead.
That lead would hold until the fifth when with runners on first and third, the Silkworms had Mike Bourdon break from first base. In a scene similar to that of the first inning, SteepleCats catcher Rob Noe threw behind the runner at third and sailed the ball into left field, allowing Matt Grosso to score for a 1-1 ballgame.
The Silkworms took the lead on a weird play in the top of the eighth inning when on a strikeout wild pitch, Noe committed his second throwing error of the evening, lifting the ball past Paul Hoilman at first base, allowing A. J. Rsubarsky to score to give Manchester a 2-1 lead. A single later in the inning by Mike Gallic made it 3-1.
North Adams refused to quit, however, as the SteepleCats worked a two out rally, getting a bases loaded walk from Joe Leonard, scoring Nick Shaw to cut the lead to 3-2. That was as close as the ‘Cats would get, however, as Brandon Otto shut the door for his second save of the year.
Jeremiah Bayer (1-0) picked up the win for the Silkworms. Dan Benz (0-1) suffered the hard luck loss for North Adams.
The SteepleCats will have Monday off before heading to Danbury for Tuesday evening’s game. Mitch Clegg (0-0) will get the start for North Adams.
