Connor Bach Tosses 5-Scoreless Innings as Salina Stockade End Skid
It has seemed like a month since the Salina Stockade won their last game. It has not been that long, but the last time that the Stockade won a game was on the third day of the season. Since then, they had lost 22-games, but that came to an end Tuesday night, when Connor Bach tossed five-shutout innings, and Jimmy Heck was 4-5 with 3-runs scored and an RBI in the 7-0 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders.
After a scoreless first, the Stockade grabbed the lead in the top of the second. Heck started the frame with a base hit and moved to second on a ground out. Jesse Baker then reached on an error, and a sacrifice fly brought Heck home to make it 1-0.
In the third, the lead would become four. Troy Paris started it out by singling and Kewby Meyer followed with his first home run of the season. Jorge Martinez retired the next two hitters, but Heck kept the inning alive with a double. Dylan Mouzakes took over and he would retire the final batter of the frame, but not before giving up a single to Cody Coffman that scored Heck. That made it 4-0.
In the fifth, the lead became five. Meyer and Daniel Aldrich delivered back-to-back singles to start the inning, and a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners. Heck followed with a single that scored Meyer to make it 5-0.
In the seventh, the Stockade put this game away. Mike Blanke homered, his first of the season, with one down to make it 6-0. Heck followed with a triple and Coffman walked to put runners at the corners with one down. A sacrifice fly by Baker brought Heck home to make it 7-0.
While the offense was putting up runs, Connor Bach () was making his best start of the season. He allowed a two-out double in the second, then did not allow another hit over the next three innings. Bach went 5-innings, allowing 1-hit, 4-walks, and no runs while fanning 6.
In the sixth, Skylar Hunter came on and he gave Salina two scoreless innings of relief. Tyler Herr came on in the eighth and he also tossed two-scoreless innings to complete the shutout. The three pitchers allowed just 4-hits.
The victory ended the longest losing streak in American Association history at 22. This was the first shutout in Salina Stockade history. Kewby Meyer finished 2-4 with 2-runs, a homer and 2-RBI. Jimmy Heck was 4-5 with 3-runs scored and an RBI. Troy Paris finished 2-3 with a run and 2-walks. Cleburne managed just -hits in the ballgame.
These two teams continue their four-game series tomorrow. First pitch is 7:06.
By Robert Pannier