There were runs aplenty on Monday evening - not uncommon at the notorious Ninth Line Sports Park - as the Red Sox outlasted the Erindale Cardinals 15-8 to end their regular season COBA losing streak at 4.
Milton collected 11 hits in the game, and the always dangerous Cardinals countered with a dozen of their own. The Sox' timely hitting and the Cards untimely defence being the biggest factors for the night.
As they have most recently, Milton opened the scoring in the first inning when Liam Butchereit's 2-out single cashed Jakob Siracusa, who had reached via fielder's choice earlier.
After Hamel got Erindale to go quickly in their half of the first, the Sox continued their early offensive success by way of 5 runs in the 2nd. With two out and one on, Ben Singh laced a triple to right field, scoring Christian D'Cruz. Singh would then score on a wild pitch, clearing the bases. After Chris Bloom walked, Josh Maxwell reached on a Cards' error setting up Siracusa, who would line a double to the wall in centrefield, scoring both runners. Siracusa would steal 3rd and score on a wild pitch putting Milton up 6-0 after 2.
Hamel continued to keep Erindale off the scoreboard, although the Cards were making solid contact as they often do. Keeping the vaunted Erindale offence at bay allowed the Red Sox offence to keep momentum into the 4th inning, scoring another 3 runs and increasing the lead to 9-0. With one out, Siracusa singled, Butchereit reached on an error, and Liam Buckley smashed a triple to the wall in right field. Buckley would trot home as D'Cruz doubled him home to put more distance between the two friendly foes.
Erindale would continue to put bat-to-ball and scratch out a run in each of their 4th & 5th innings. The Cardinals were seemingly knocking for more, but the Milton defence turned a-not-to-often 8-6-5 double play to end the potential rally.
Leading 10-2 in the 7th - with Hamel now out of the game - Milton cashed another 2 unearned runs to give the Sox the opportunity to end the game early, now leading 12-2.
Enter the Erindale offence. Reliever Nick Edwards was greeted rudely, not only by his own defence, but a dangerous animal in a Cards' offence that will swing until the end of time. Erindale scored 6 times in the 7th to cut the lead, and summon reliever Kyle Clark from the bullpen. The Milton lefty would allow a sacrifice fly and induce another long flyout to end the threat.
However, instead of folding their tents as they have recently, the Sox continued to be advantageous and at the same time keep the offensive line moving. D'Cruz led off the 8th with his 2nd two-bagger of the night, stole 3rd, and scored on hard single by Aaron Nash. SIngh would then walk bringing leadoff man Bloom to the dish. The veteran would drop a single into right field and head for 2nd, only to discover that the runners ahead of him had been held on the play, creating a rundown between 1st & 2nd base. The 7 throw outcome - Bloom was eventually tagged out - would plate Nash and Singh to push the Milton lead to 7. Clark finished off a quick Erindale home half to end the game and get the Sox off the losers' mat.
Hamel went 6 innings, allowing 9 hits, 2 runs (1 ER), while striking out 3, and walking a pair. The Milton hurler earned his 5th win of the season and has been the Sox stop-gap all season long. Kyle Clark pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief when Erindale was threatening to get back into the game.
Siracusa, Butchereit, and D'Cruz each collected 2 hits for the visitors, while Bloom led the team with 3 RBI on the night. Ben SIngh had a breakout game - offensively & defensively, while the aforementioned Siracusa, and D'Cruz each showcased their speed with multiple steals in the game. Milton amassed 9 walks for the evening, and stole a season-high 6 bases.
With the win, the Red Sox climb back to the magic .500 mark at 9-9, and will face the top seeded Etobicoke Rangers for the final time in regular season play this year. The two teams face-off on Wednesday night at Glenn Turner Field. Game time 7:30 pm.
