Grays’ drop rain-shortened game

​6/25/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

If the weather had held for just a few more minutes, the DC Grays might have found their way into the win column last night. But torrential rain, thunder, and lightning forced the game against the Gaithersburg Giants to be called midway through the seventh inning, with the Giants up 3-2. The loss drops the Grays to 7-11 for the season.

The game started slowly for both teams, with few hits from either side. Grays starting pitcher Joe Kinee (West Chester) pitched 4.1 innings and was charged with three runs on three hits. New signee Sam Delaplane (Eastern Michigan) relieved Kinee in the fifth inning and pitched well.

The Grays began a rally in the top of the seventh inning, as it began to drizzle. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) hit a single, then stole second.  Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) singled as well, moving Sweeting to third. He then scored on Michael Breen’s (San Jose State) single. With Brandon Chapman (George Washington) at bat, a wild pickoff attempt allowed Bobo to score, making the score 3-2 and giving the Grays a chance to tie things up.

The game was almost called in the middle of Lucas Martinez’s (New Mexico State) at bat, after Breen and Chapman had stolen third and second respectively, putting them in scoring position. Martinez was allowed to finish, but unfortunately struck out in the pouring rain, effectively ending the game.

The Grays will have a day off today before returning to the Nationals Youth Academy on Friday to play the Rockville Express. Tyler Shamas (Mitchell) is the Grays’ expected starting pitcher.