Kirby’s Two-RBI Single in Ninth Sinks Vault Boys
Nelson “Rat” Kirby is not what you would call a master batter. In fact, the 19-year-old had very few opportunities to bat with the Radscorpions in 2286 due to his offensive woes.
Still, despite batting only .183 during the regular season, Kirby proved to be clutch in the top of the ninth, blooping a two-RBI single to score the winning runs in North Vegas’ 6-4 come-from-behind win at Vault-Tec in Primm.
George O’Kill, the game’s most valuable player, drove in the tying run in the top of the ninth, following a Jason Williams double with an RBI double. O’Kill overcame a miserable three-game stretch to start the series by going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run, two RBI, three runs, and two walks in Game Four. Bill Cole followed with a walk, and Jesus Martinez singled to load the bases with nobody out. After two straight outs, Kirby came through.
John Rock suffered the loss for the Vault Boys, allowing three earned runs on four hits with a walk and strikeout in just 2/3 of an inning. Orlando Stephens was the starting pitcher for Vault-Tec. In 6.2 innings, he allowed three earned runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Curt Petty was the winning pitcher for North Vegas, allowing no runs on a hit with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings. Gary Clark got the save, pitching a perfect ninth inning. Lee Burke was the starting pitcher. He finished with four earned runs allowed on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
The Radscorpions took the first lead of the game in the second. O’Kill and Cole led off with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Duncan Whaley was intentionally walked to load the bases for Burke. Burke then answered by hitting a two-RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
Vault-Tec scored its first runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. With one out, James Sexton singled. Joseph Dillon then hit a two-run home run to deep left center field.
North Vegas retook the lead in the seventh when O’Kill hit a solo home run. However, the lead was short-lived.
The Vault Boys answered in the bottom of the inning. MC Mack Walt Williams led off with a walk. With one out, Raul Castro singled to move Williams to third. With two outs, pinch hitter Nelson Johnson hit a two-RBI triple to give Vault-Tec its first lead, 4-3.
That led to the three-run rally by North Vegas in the ninth.
North Vegas had 14 hits in the game, mostly led from its charge at the 4-5-6 spots in the order. O’Kill, Cole, and Arthur Glass/Martinez combined to go 9 for 11 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI, five runs, and three walks.
The series is now tied 2-2. Pressure may be on Vault-Tec to win the next game. Then again, there has been no home field advantage in the 2286 playoffs. In nine games, the home team is just 2-7, including 0-4 so far this series.