Grays win in bottom of the ninth

​6/27/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

Last night’s game between the DC Grays and the Rockville Express ended on an awkward, or one might say, “walk-ward” moment, when the Grays scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch during an intentional walk. It was the third run of the game scored either because of a wild pitch or a passed ball. With the 3-2 win, the Grays are 8-11 on the season.

It was an error-filled affair from the beginning. The first Express run, in the top of the first inning, scored on an overthrow on a pickoff attempt by the Grays. The Grays, however, did not let the Express keep the early lead. In the bottom of the first, Eric Urry (Brigham Young) had a double for the first Grays’ hit of the game, and Webb Bobo (Southeast Louisiana) was walked. Urry ran to third on a passed ball during Lucas Martinez’s (New Mexico State) at bat, and both Urry and Bobo advanced on a wild pitch during the same at bat, with Urry scoring. Martinez singled up the right field line, scoring Bobo for a 2-1 Grays lead.

The Express tied the score in the fourth, again on a passed ball, and the game remained tied until the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, things got interesting. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) was hit by a pitch with one out, and Bobo hit a double that moved Sweeting to third. The Express changed pitchers, and decided to intentionally walk Martinez to set up a force at any base. The plan backfired when the new Express pitcher threw a wild pitch over the catcher’s outstretched glove. Sweeting took off from third and sprinted home from third with the winning run.

Grays starter Tyler Shamas (Mitchell) pitched five innings and gave up two runs on two hits in his home debut. In the sixth inning, Ari Kaufman (Lafayette) relieved him and pitched four clean innings and picked up the win.

On Saturday, the Grays will play a double header at the Nationals Youth Academy against the Baltimore Dodgers. Colin Kelly (Catholic) is expected to start the first game, and Justin Drechsel (Johns Hopkins) is expected to start the second.