Without the help of the entire starting infield and two-thirds of the starting outfield, Ducks' Manager TC Jones, patched together a brilliant last-second lineup and led South Oakland to victory. The Ducks (5-7-1) got strong performances from their reserves, and held on for a 6-5 victory over the Hurricanes(2-4). Jones (1-1) pitched five innings for his first victory of the season, Nick Homa recorded the save (3).
Gwin singled and scored on Nick Homa's ground-out to put the Ducks up 1-0 in the first.
The Hurricanes answered with a single and a double in the bottom of the first, tying the game at one. Jones stopped the rally with two strike outs and a ground out to end the first.
In the top of the third, Gwin singled, stole second and scored on Rick Whalen's RBI double.
Whalen also threw a runner out in the bottom of the third.
Were it not for two Hurricane double plays, the Ducks could have run away with it early.
South Oakland lead 2-1 after three and a half innings.
I left for work
Sources say there was a four run rally in the top of the fifth, to put South Oakland up 6-2.
The Hurricanes chipped away, and trailed 6-5 in the sixth. Then Homa came in and shut them down for his third save of the season.
BULLET POINTS
- The Ducks are now one game back in the win column of the 6-5 Eagles, who hold the final playoff spot in the Monongahela Division.
- The fourth place Rakers are 5-5, pending the results of their game today against the Oilers. The Rakers play a double header against the division leading Black Sox (9-1) tomorrow, starting at 12pm at Avonworth High School.
- Coby had an unbillievable day at the plate.
- A. Smith had an RBI single
- KT played a good three innings at second, and the defense as a whole was solid.
- The Eagles played the second place OwlZ (7-2) today (no score posted), and the Matadors tomorrow.
- As this weekend progresses, the Monongahela race will tighten one way or another.
- Here's to a 6-7 log-jam.
- Should the Ducks win tomorrow vs. the Bulldogs, it will be South Oakland's first winning streak of the season.
- The 6-5 victory was the fifth one-run game of the Ducks' season, (3-2).
- The tie vs. the Phantoms will be completed if the outcome will effect playoff seeding.
- The Hurricanes are good guys, and I wish them the best of luck the rest of the season.
The Ducks play Sunday at 6pm at Avenworth High School Field.
There will be a pre-game post by 2pm tomorrow.
Go Ducks.
