Mother Nature must have been somewhat of a baseball fan for one night anyway as she allowed the Americans and Giants to square off at the Satellite field Tuesday night in a key 55 Division matchup.
She also must have had an intuition of what was to come because she was sure other games were postponed. And the game didn't disappoint. She was rewarded with outstanding baseball as the Giants squeezed out a 3-2 victory on a two-out walk-off single by Mike Lannon just before she opened up the skies and put the field under water.
The Americans scored twice in the top of the 7th to tie the score, but Ralph Caputo smacked a one-out single to left, stole second and went to third on a grounder to 2nd. With two outs, Lannon then lined a single just past the outstretched glove of the 2nd-baseman and Caputo came home with the clincher. Seconds later, the rains began and sent everyone scampering to their cars.
Ed Rogers was outstanding for the Americans, taking a 2-hitter into the 5th inning. But Ron Smaka led off the Giants 5th with a single and Pete Geannelis followed with a towering blast to deep center field that cleared the fence and took one short bounce into the woods to make it 2-0.
Meanwhile, Al Wolfer took a no-hitter into the 6th, but struggled with control as he walked five and worked out of jams in the first, fourth and fifth innings before the Americans tied the game in the seventh.
The Americans had a great opportunity in the first inning, loading the bases with no outs. Jim Wing then lined a bullet that appeared headed up the middle and into center field for two RBIs. But Wolfer's quick reaction snared the liner and he flipped to 3rd for the double play. The next batter grounded weakly to short for the force to end the inning unscathed.
In the 7th, Wolfer, who had never had a pitching victory before, had to dig deep after the Americans tied the score. Matt Leinung led off the inning with a grounder to 3rd, but the throw to first sailed past the first-baseman and out of play. Rob Rugen then lined a single to left to put runners at the corners. Rugen then stole second to bring up lead-off hitter Mike LaBarge. LaBarge executed perfectly, hitting the ball to the right side for a 4-3 putout and an RBI and also moving Rugen to 3rd. Mike Heffner then drew an unintentional/intentional walk to put runners at the corners once again with one out. Dave DiMario's grounder to short was misplayed and Rugen scored the tying run with still one out and runners on first and second with perennial all-league player Jim Wing stepping up to the plate.
Wing, who was robbed in the first inning when he lined back to the pitcher, then hit another shot, but this time right at Ralph Caputo at short. He flipped to Tony Nardacci who flipped to first for the third DP of the game for the Giants and send the game to the bottom of the 7th to set up Lannon's heroics.
In addition to Rogers remarkable outing, the Americans played flawless defense. DiMaria, at shortstop, perhaps made the play of the game for the Americans. In the Giants 6th with two outs and two on, Smaka hit a sharply hit grounder that appeared headed toward center field. DiMaria, ranging far to his left, knocked the ball down, then with his back to second base, backflipped the ball with his glove to Jim Wing at second for the force and save a run.
Wolfer ended the evening with a 2-hitter, but walked 7 in his first full outing ever. Geannelis also doubled to center in his first at-bat. No other Giants player had two hits. It was the lowest run total of the season for the Giants, which is a testament to Rogers' effectiveness. He walked two and struck out one.
Darrell Duncan made perhaps the most outstanding play for the giants, running at full tilt toward second, made a great shoe-string catch to rob DeMaria of a single in the 4th. Bill Smith and Nardacci had the Giants other two hits - both singles.
There is one more matchup with the Americans, Monday the 28th at New Scotland Town Park. Hope Mother nature has a box seat for that one as well.
