Bravehearts

Worcester, MA – A rain delay pushed game time back about an hour and a half, but the Bristol Blues showed no signs of sluggishness en route to a 7-3 win over the Worcester Bravehearts Tuesday night.

The game was scheduled for 6:30 but did not start until after 8pm due to showers that rolled in just before first pitch. The game ended after 11pm. Both other games in the FCBL were postponed Tuesday night. Worcester had won two in a row prior to the loss tonight, while the Blues have now carry a five-game winning streak.

After a Kasey Bass RBI-single in the second inning to get on the board, the Blues (10-10) exploded in the fourth inning with four runs to make the score 5-0. Bristol got two men on base quickly thanks to a hit by pitch and a single. With runners on first and third, Bass put a ball in play to second, but there was no play at home as Sam Loda scored. Danny Roth followed with a RBI-triple, and Roth proceeded to score on a wild pitch. A walk put another man on base, who reached second on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on a Christian Beal single.

Worcester starter Jack Steele did not make it out of that inning and ended up taking the loss. The right-hander lasted just 3.2 IP, giving up six hits and five runs (three earned). Steele gave way to lefty Brian Robertson, who gave Worcester some length out of the bullpen. In his Bravehearts debut, Robertson lasted 3.1 innings and surrendered two unearned runs.

The Bravehearts (8-10) did respond in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to pull within a 5-2 score. PJ Barry and Tyler Becker walked, and Mack Cheli drove both home with a towering fly to left field that glanced off the top of the wall. Arjun Thakar did get two outs after that but walked the next two men, ending his outing also after just 3.2 innings.

Bristol tacked on another two runs in the sixth thanks to a Brandon Miller two-RBI triple. Worcester also put a run on board in the home half with a Ben Rice RBI-single to end the scoring.

Wesley Lahey picked up the win, allowing just one run in 1.2 innings of relief of Thakar. Zeke Diamond had a three-hit day for Bristol and Miller and Bass each had two RBI. Worcester only recorded five hits as a team.

After a day off tomorrow, the Bravehearts continue a busy stretch of play with a doubleheader Thursday against North Shore to make up a rainout from June 10. Game One will begin at 5pm with Game Two starting around 7:30 depending on the outcome of the first game. Two more home games will follow on Friday and Saturday, respectively.