Game 2 Recap Dodgers @ Yankees

Bridlewood Park

A beautiful night for baseball, although the winds of fortune were sadly not blowing our way.  The Dodgers executed defensively and took advantage of our own miscues to make the game somewhat lop-sided.  None the less, we took some steps towards unlocking the team potential and can build on the lessons we learned tonight.

Kai took to the mound to start the game, ably backstopped by Sam S.  A lead-off strikeout was a nice start to the game, but the Dodgers managed to peck away a couple of hits.  Ethan scooped up a ball hit down the first baseline for the second out but a couple of base hits behind the outfielders allowed two quick runs before Kai could earn his second strike-out to end the top of the first.

The Yankees threatened in the top of the 1^st as Ken reached first base to lead off the inning.  The Dodgers were careful to minimize our chances as they tracked down Daniel’s hit forcing the first out at first base.  After Isaac was hit by a pitch a strike-out and ground ball eliminated the threat.

Josh took over pitching duties in the second and struck out two of the first three batters he faced.  The third out proved to be elusive and a couple more balls got behind the outfielders allowing the Dodgers to ring up three more runs.  Josh took a hard shot off his arm, but insisted on finishing the inning, settling in to ring up his third strike out of the inning.

Jake lead off the bottom of the second with a single, advancing to second when Brandon was it by the pitch. With one out Jack ripped a ball towards left field only to have the Dodger’s shortstop reach out to snag the ball. Coach Jeff was already planning to send Jake if the ball had dropped, but had to shout to Jake to get back to return to second. Many teams would have more forgiving with their relay back to second, but the Dodgers were deadly accurate. Score that one as an Error to the coach.   Jake was quick to forgive me.  Thanks Jake.

Jake put in a workman effort on the mound, backed by some sound defence by Brendan scooping up a ground ball to first. Despite a few two strike-counts, that third strike was tauntingly just out of reach.  The team pounced on a couple of ground balls, but came up empty.  Thankfully, the players are all involved and continue to execute their roles correctly, so the results are coming.

Ethan came up with the lone hit the bottom of the third thanks to his hustle on a ball hit to right field.

Jack had his turn on the mound in the fourth inning.  With the game out of hand, that allowed him a stress-free chance to work on mechanics.  Jake made his presence felt a couple of times, narrowly missing a shallow pop fly to the third base side as well as gathering in a ground ball hit up the middle and then winning a foot race to second base for a force out.  The Dodgers pecked away with some base hits, but the fact that they were hitting meant Jack was closing in on the strike zone.  By the end of his inning Jack put up three straight pitches for his first strike-out of the season.

The Yankees tried to break through in the bottom of the inning.  Isaac now holds the team record for HBP in a game as he took a second one to the back. Sam B’s single followed by an infield hit by Jake loaded the bases, but that elusive run will have to wait for our next game. Thankfully, the players were becoming more aggressive with the bats as the game went on, so that shows promise for Thursday night.