BECKLEY, W.Va. – In a recreation devoid of circulate, Johnstown batters walked as many occasions as they scored – and that was loads.
5 West Virginia Miners pitchers mixed to stroll 14 batters, and the Mill Rats received 14-5 Wednesday on opening evening at Linda Okay. Epling Stadium.
Leadoff hitter Jake Casey obtained 5 of the free passes on his personal as Johnstown received supervisor Tyler Sullivan’s debut.
“We could not ask for rather more of a greater begin to the season on opening evening,” Sullivan stated. “Simply attending to see loads of guys on the market and play exhausting. We did not chase an excessive amount of. They gave us some free bases and we capitalized on it.”
Miners supervisor Tim Epling stated the Mill Rats’ method on the plate gave his pitchers issues. They threw 227 pitches, 96 for balls.
“Too many balls,” Epling stated. “Too many 3-2 counts. They took pitches they usually made them work. Nerves have loads to do with all these issues.”
Johnstown additionally had 10 hits along with the 14 walks, two every from Sam Mast, Matt Santarelli and Joe Alcorn. Mast drove in 4 runs.
The Mill Rats used 5 pitchers, however they mixed to challenge simply three walks and held the Miners to seven hits. The underside third of the West Virginia order was 2-for-12 with eight strikeouts – though a type of hits was No. 9 hitter Eddie Leon’s mammoth two-run homer to left that acquired his crew to inside 9-4 within the sixth inning.
“We did not actually harm ourselves,” Sullivan stated. “We gave up a few huge hits, however fortunately we did not put anyone on free of charge. After we acquired in a jam they had been fairly gutsy and acquired out of it.”
Starter Christian Hack was credited with the win. He struck out 4 and walked one whereas permitting an earned run and two hits over three innings.
The groups will meet in Beckley once more Thursday at 6:35 p.m.