PIRATES IMPROVE TO 2 - 1

After falling behind 3-0, taking a 5-3 lead, and trailing 8-5 after 6-1/2 innings, the Pirates scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 9-8 time limit victory over the Thunder Sunday afternoon at Clarksville field.

John Denny works in the second.

The Thunder opened the scoring in the first with an unearned run against John Denney.  They added two unearned runs in the second. 
 
In the second inning the Pirates threatened to score when Juan Ortiz and Jackson Nave singled and Dustin Stover walked to load the bases.  But a line drive double play and a fly out left the score at 3-0.

Dustin goes into the hole for the first out in the first.

In the third, a double, single and an infield single with one out filled the bases for the Thunder.  But Dustin (shortstop) threw a runner out at the plate (Scotty Ireland, C) and Bill Keeling (2B) ended the threat with an assist to Jackson (1B).  In the bottom of the third, Chris Gregory was stranded on third after a two out triple.

Brent fields at third.

The Pirates took the lead in the fourth.  Jose Cubero singled; Juan walked; Jackson reached on an error; Dustin singled, driving in Jose; and John cleared the bases (3 RBI) with a double to left center; all with no outs.  Bill ended the scoring with an RBI single.  He and Chris (single) were left on base.  After four the Pirates led 5-3.

Jose in short left field.

The Thunder cut the lead to 5-4 in the fifth with their fourth unearned run of the game.  But they could only push across one even  though they touched John for three singles and one error.  In the bottom of the inning, John was stranded at third after a single, passed ball, and throwing error.

John was lifted in the sixth with the Pirates leading 5-4.  The Thunder opened the sixth with a walk.  The runner moved to second on a balk, to third on a wild pitch and was joined on base by another walk.  The runner on third scored on a wild pitch with the runner on first advancing all the way to third.  After an infield single put runners at first and third, the next batter produced the first out, 1 to 3 (Bobby Blair to Jackson).  A walk loaded the bases and a walk to the next batter produced a second run.  Brent Bronte moved to the mound and the first batter hit a ground ball to Dustin who threw the runner from third out at the plate (to Scotty).  A walk closed out the scoring for the Thunder with the third out coming on a fielder’s choice to Bobby unassisted at third.

The Pirates were looking at an 8-5 deficit with time running out.  The seventh opened with David Stierle walking and Scotty being hit by a pitch.  With one out, Brent walked to load the bases.  Jose drove in a run with a single to make the score 8-6.  But RBI walks to Juan, Jackson and Justin gave the Pirates a 9-8 win.