Steamers edge River Bandits in offensive battle
Edenton, NC – Another Steamers-River Bandits matchup that saw big swings, excellent defense, and a flare for the dramatic. The Edenton Steamers defeated the Tarboro River Bandits, 9-6, Sunday night in front of a packed crowd at Historic Hicks Field. The Steamers were fueled by a web gem in the field, a power surge, and another strong performance in the middle innings.
The Clams started the action offensively against River Bandits starter Jake Fuller in the first inning. Ryan Kay reached on an infield single with two outs to bring up clean-up hitter Khris Morris.
Morris launched a two-run home run to left field to give the Clams an early 2-0 lead. Morris has now hit two home runs and driven in four runs in his last three games.
The Steamers tacked on two more in the inning on a 2-RBI single by Ty Garza to put the home squad up 4-0.
After a scoreless first inning against Clams starter Cole Taylor, the River Bandits erupted in the top of the second. Tarboro first baseman Jack Nielson worked a leadoff walk to bring designated hitter Kruise Newman up.
Taylor was Kruisen’ no more, Newman hit a 2-run home run to straight away centerfield to make it 4-2. It was the first home run given up by Taylor in each of his first four starts.
Tarboro ripped off two more runs as the Steamers’ starter could not recover. Taylor allowed four out of the next five batters to reach on just one base hit. Alex Gianascoli came out of the pen and limited the damage to only four.
Steamers starters have now thrown a combined 9.0 innings, allowed 16 total runs, and walked 17 batters over the last three games.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Clams’ offense went back to work with two outs. A wild pitch by Fuller allowed Morris to score and Tate Abbott dropped a bloop single into left field to bring home Ty Garza. In the very next bottom half, Geomar Santana lined a double just over the third base bag down the line to put Edenton up 7-4.
As the bats started to slow down, Gianascoli picked it up on the hill. The Virginia Beach native allowed just one unearned run on an error in the sixth through his first four frames. In the sixth Gianascoli got some help from his defense.
With two outs and Newman at second base, River Bandits Eston Snider bloops a single to center. Clams centerfielder Nate Paulsen throws a two-hop line drive to Tyler Overaitis to nail Newman and end the inning.
For Paulsen, it is his first outfield assist of the season and his first for the Clams since August 1st last season against the River Bandits.
After the game, Gianascoli said, “The boys came to play today.”
Gianascoli also came to play on the mound. The right-handed arm threw 6.0 innings allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, five strikeouts, and earned his third win of the season.
The two rivals traded a pair of runs in the late innings before John Horton recorded five outs to earn his third save of the season.
Edenton and Tarboro will be back on the diamond in less than 24 hours at Tarboro Municipal Stadium, Monday night. The game will be streamed on the Tarboro River Bandits YouTube page.
The next home game at Historic Hicks will be after the Fourth of July in the final game before the All-Star Break when the Chowan County Cantaloupes play host to the Virginia Beach Sea Dogs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
If you cannot make it to the game you can tune into the Steamers YouTube page, your home for every Steamers home game, and a select few road games.