|
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: GAME 4
The Turtles headed into game four down two games to one and really wanted to avoid falling into a deeper hole. Josh Simpson was headed to the hill to try to shut down the Douglas offense.
The Tucson offense got off to a fast start. Following a first pitch pop-out, Steve Guilfoyle singled and moved to third on a double by Elijah Leggett. Justin Blohm drew a walk to load the bases for Steve Stoddard who singled into left-center field. Only one runner came across to score on the hit. The Turtles weren’t able to capitalize further as Jaylen Lucas grounded into an inning-ending double play. 1-0 Tucson.
Douglas loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 2nd but Simpson was able to get a strikeout and a groundout to avoid allowing any runs to score.
Simpson led off the 4th inning by hitting Phil Thooft on an 0-2 pitch. Kelvin Martin doubled and Thooft had to stop at third. After retiring Danny Sosa, Simpson gave up a two-run double to catcher Steve Duffy. That hit put Douglas on top 2-1.
Casey Atkinson replaces Simpson to start the 5th inning and struggled to find the strike zone early. He gave up a single on the first pitch and then walked the next two batters on ten pitches. Kelvin Martin, Steve Duffy, and Scott Hughes each singled and the Jackrabbits added on four runs to take a 6-1 lead.
The Turtles scored a run in the top of the 6th on a bases loaded walk by reliever Joe Patterson but left them loaded without another run coming across.
Kelvin Martin added an RBI single in the 6th and Danny Sosa added a solo home run in the 8th. The Jackrabbits won game 4 by a score of 8-2 and took a commanding 3-1 series lead. Game 5 would move back to Tucson.
Eric Peterson earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.
Kelvin Martin was 3-5 with 1 double, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.
Steve Duffy went 3-5 with 1 double and 4 RBI.
|