Back to back shutouts for Grays

GAME RECAP 7-17-2015

By: Anna Dunlavey; @annadunlaveyy

The DC Grays made history on Friday night in Vienna. After defeating the Baltimore Redbirds two nights ago 2-0, they got another shutout win against the Riverdogs. The 3-0 win marks the first back-to-back shutouts in Grays history.

The Grays have the hard work of starter Harry Thomas (UNC-Greensboro) and reliever Zack Irwin (East Mississippi CC) to thank for the historic win. Thomas started the game and threw 6.2 strong innings, scattering just three hits. He walked two batters and struck out six. Irwin, who took the mound for the final 2.1 innings, got his first win of the season. He struck out two batters, and didn’t give up any hits or walks.

​Just as they did in the game against the Redbirds, the Grays broke a scoreless tie late in the contest. This time the Grays struck in the top of the ninth. C Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) changed the game, starting the inning off with a double. Sinnen reached third when 1B Colton Shaver (BYU) singled, and SS Drew Reid (Harvard) drove in Sinnen on a sacrifice fly to give the Grays the lead. The Grays had the first and only run on the board, but Quinn Carpenter (Texas Tech) gave the Grays some needed insurance. Carpenter hit a two-run home run to put the Grays up 3-0. It was Carpenter’s second homer of the season, and Irwin’s scoreless ninth made it stand up.

​The regular season ends in a week, and the Grays, now 15-20 on the season, are looking to finish strong. They’ll face the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts tonight at home at the Nationals Youth Academy at 7pm. Conner Van Hoose (Bucknell) is the probable starting pitcher for the Grays.