Kings beat ThunderBolts once again

By Ryan Loren
Western Herald

The Kalamazoo Kings (33-20) flashed their defensive prowess against the Windy City ThunderBolts in the second game of the three-game series. The Kings beat the Bolts for the second night in a row by a final score of 9-4.

The Kings infielders turned two double plays at critical moments of the game.

In the third inning, Kings starting pitcher Ben Rue got into a jam with runners on first and third with only one out. Bolt’s first baseman J.T. Restko knocked a bouncing groundball up the middle of the field where Kings second baseman Joseph Ramos made the difficult grab to help end the inning on the double play.

In the sixth inning, Kings’ relief pitcher Andre Benjamin gifted first base to Bolt’s outfielder Vinnie Scarduzio by hitting him on the right hand with the ball. On the very next pitch, designated hitter Bryan Cook grounded into the 4-6-3 double play. The play gained extra importance after Bolt’s next batter, third baseman Wilson Matos, crushed the only home run of the game deep over the centerfield wall to pull his team within one run.

“We know our offense will always come around, it’s just when is the question,” Rue said. “Just keep it close most of the game and eventually we know our offense is going to pull through and break away.”

Rue pitched five innings, yielding three runs on seven hits with only one walk.

“I had some problems with [my control] in my last start and I really needed to focus on getting the first strike with each batter,” Rue said. “I think I did a better job with that today and hopefully I can carry that into my next start.”

The Bolts got on the board first after a sacrifice fly from Restko scored second baseman Gilberto Mejia, but the Kings posted the biggest inning of the game in the third frame.

Kings’ outfielder Josh Short beat out a throw to first base for an infield single and reached third base after designated hitter Brendan Murphy skied a fly ball double just over the glove of Bolts centerfielder Robert Perry. First baseman Jett Ruiz took first to load the bases after being hit on the shoulder by Bolts starting pitcher Brandon Garner.

Garner walked in a run to score the Kings first run of the game and kept the bases loaded for third baseman Amos Ramon.

The Kings number eight hitter came through in a big way after hammering the ball just inside the centerfield wall. Ramon’s three RBI triple cleared the bases and put the Kings on top for good.

“The first time I came up to bat I struck out on three pitches straight and I told myself there’s no way I’m gonna get out again and especially with bases loaded,” Ramon said.

Ramon put an exclamation mark on his game by leading off the eighth inning with his second triple of the game, eventually scoring on an RBI single from outfielder Brandon Anderson.

Ramon finished the game 3-4 with two runs and three RBI. Short went 2-4 with one run and one RBI and also reached base on a rare catcher inference call in the first inning.

Matos was the Bolt’s top performer, finishing 2-4 with solo-shot home run and his 36th stolen base of the season. Outfielder Damian Walcott went 1-4 with a two RBI triple in the fourth inning.

The Bolts swept the Kings in Crestwood, Ill. in a three-game series July 7-9. With a victory tomorrow, the Kings can get revenge with a sweep of their own.

“We owe those guys, especially from last year,” Ramon said. “To get the sweep, to pay them back— we need that.”

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Posted by heraldstaff on Jul 21 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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