The story in Game one was Steve Lounello throwing a gem vs the league's top offense in a 6-2 win! Steve threw a five hitter, giving up just two runs and walking two, while striking out 7. For some reason, my score keeper did not keep the Giants score during game one, but from memory I can tell you that Paul Scuteri had 3 hits. Jimmy K will have to fill-in the rest of the details for the Giants scoring. Mike Ferraro had two doubles for the Golden Marlins. Game two saw the Giants take a lead in the bottom of the first on a RBI single by Doug Reisinger. The Marlins plated two runs in the top of the second, as they loaded the bases on a Ferraro single, a Mike Clary HBP, and a Jim Ansel walk. TJ Scorsone drove in two with a single, and the Fish were ahead 2-1. The Giants evened the score at 2 on a single by Mike Kane and a double by Mario Arduini. The Giants would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on a Steve Lounello lead off double and a Wayne Phillips RBI single. With elimination staring them in the face, the Marlins erupted for 5 runs in the top of the 4th inning. Mike Clary got the rally started with a single, Phil Gadomski walked, Jim Ansel reached on an error that scored the tying run. After a pop out to the pitcher, Tom Maney reached on a fielders choice. With two outs, Tim Brown walked to load the bases. Mike Girard followed with a 4 pitch walk to score the go ahead run, and Ron Lochner singled to score one more. Mike Ferraro was hit by a pitch to plate the 4th run of the inning, and Mike Clary put a cap on the inning with a RBI single. Now behind 7-3, the Giants fought right back with a two run homer by Wayne Phillips. The Giants would put the tying runs on in the bottom of the fifth, with nobody out on a single by Mark Dabney and a walk to Jim Whitford. Mike Girard would then come on in relief of Jim Ansel. Girard induced a grounder that was mishandled, and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Girard got a big strike out for the first out. Then he got Mario Arduini to bounce to short. The double play relay to first was unable to be made due to a nice clean hard slide by Doug Reisinger. This allowed the 6th run to score. Girard then walked Paul Scuteri to re-load the bases, but was able to strike out Steve Lounello to end the threat. Buoyed by escaping the inning with a 7-6 lead, the Marlins rallied for two insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Consecutive singles by Lochner, Ferraro, and Clary (2 RBI's) led to the runs. Girard walked two Giants in the bottom half of the inning, but was able to pitch out of that jam, and the Marlins led 9-6 entering the 7th inning. The Golden Marlins added 4 more insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a single by Ansel, pinch hit singles by John Reel, and Jim McQuade, and doubles by Girard and Ferraro. The Giants were able to plate just one run in the bottom of the 7th, and the Fish walked off with a 13-7 victory. It was a fantastic day of great baseball played by the leagues top two teams and it sets up a dramatic final game today at noon at New Scotland! Make sure you don't miss this one!! Come on out and enjoy a sunny fall day with some great friends and some great baseball!!!!!!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Sunday 23rd of September 2012 09:19:05 AM
