by Michael Perkins, www.namur-angels.be
Greys Edge Out Angels
The Namur Angels dropped a close game Saturday (28.5.11) to the first place Royal Greys, losing by a score of 9-4. The game was played in Merksem (Antwerp) as the Angels hit the road for the first game of a 2 game series against the Greys.
Namur got off to a good start in the first inning when DH Angel Rosario Williams doubled in leadoff hitter Thomas Vandenabeele. Williams led the offensive charge for the Angels in the game, going 3-3 on the day with an RBI.
The 1-0 didn’t last long, as the Greys added 3 unearned runs in the bottom half of the first off of Angels pitcher Jake Huffman. The start was Huffman’s first of the year, and only his second appearance in the season. Regardless, the American-born pitcher had a solid outing, going 5.2 innings and allowing 6 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits while striking out 1.
The Angels fought back, managing to score 4 runs off of Greys starting pitcher Robbe DeJongh. Right fielder Remi Gillet hit a long triple to right-center field in the 4th inning to plate Ludovic Geuquet and Florentin Goyens. Gillet finished the day at a respectable 1-3 with 2 RBIs, while Goyens was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Greys’ pitching got stronger as the game continued, as Namur failed to score another run after the 4th inning. De Jongh managed to throw a complete game and collect the win, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits while striking out 6.
Justin Latta came in relief of Huffman in the 6th inning and threw the remainder of the game. He finished the day with 2.1 innings pitched while allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and striking out 3. Greys’ hitter Yoni Vischschoonmaker provided the majority of the damage in the 8th inning when he hit a 2RBI triple to left. He finished the day going 3-4 with 4RBIs and 2 runs scored.
The loss dropped the Angels to 9-7 on the season. The final game of the weekend series against the Grey’s will be played Sunday (29.5.11) at 15:30.
Royal Greys Outlast Angels in 10 Innings
The Angels got off to an early lead Sunday (29.5.11) against the visiting Royal Greys but couldn’t manage to hold onto the lead, losing 9-5 in 10 innings of play.
The Angels led off the game with consecutive singles by Theodore De Bellefroid and Mike Perkins. They were plated by the next two hitters on an RBI singled by Angel Rosario Williams and groundout by Vincent King.
Namur increased their lead to 3-0 in the next inning when Perkins hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring spry 1st baseman Ludovic Geuquet. Perkins finished the day going 3-4 with 2RBIs, 2 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases.
Despite the early lead, the Greys came back, scoring 2 runs in the 4th inning off of Angel’s started Cedric Desmedt. Desmedt went 4 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, walking 5 and striking out 3. Nicolas Migeot threw the majority of the game in relief of Desmedt, thowing 5.1 innings and allowing 3 runs.
Several Angels had multi-hit games off of Greys starter Visschoonmaker, including Perkins, Theodore De Bellefroid (2-4, run scored), and Williams (2-4, RBI).
The Angels defense imploded in the 10th inning, committing 3 infield errors that led to 5 runs, making a late comeback nearly impossible. American pitcher Dillon Griffin threw the last 2.1 innings of the game and recorded the win for the Greys. He struck out 3 and allowed no hits.
The Greys’ sweep of the Angels dropped Namur’s record to 9-8 on the season. They will be looking for redemption next weekend, as the Angels again square off against the Royal Grey’s in another 2 game series.
{mrb-result:2011-05-28|2011-05-29|BE}
{mrb-standing:belgium-2011}