Dodgers spoil Grays’ salute

By: Anna Dunlavey; @annadunlavey

​The DC Grays held a “Salute to Negro League Baseball” last night at their home game against the Baltimore Dodgers. Unfortunately, in front of home crowd that included Negro League veterans, the Simmons Museum of Negro League Baseball and the baseball team from Sousa Middle School, the Grays turned in a mostly lifeless performance in a 3-1 loss that was delayed by rain in the sixth inning.

The team’s record is now 6-7 on the season after their third straight loss.

​The Dodgers were able to strike early, scoring their first run in the bottom of the second. A home run in the top of the sixth bumped their lead up to 2-0 just before the rain delay. The Grays showed promise after the rain passed, when RF Desmond Stegall (Grambling State) led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single and C Hunter Southerland (Texas Tech) was hit by a pitch. 1B Colton Shaver (Brigham Young), who was 2-3 on the night with an RBI, scored Stegall on a single. Things were looking up for the Grays, with two runners on and no outs, but the next three batters went down in order. The Grays didn’t register any more hits for the rest of the game, and the Dodgers added another run in the top of the seventh.

​Zach Irwin (East Mississippi CC) got his first start last night after working the first few weeks of the season as a reliever. He pitched six innings, and gave up two runs on five hits but wasn’t helped by some sloppy Grays defense. He struck out six batters and walked none. Bailey Spence (Cecil CC) took over in the top of the seventh. He immediately got a strikeout, but hit the next batter, who advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. After Spence gave up a hit and the Dodgers scored again, Reid Frazier (Penn State) took over on the mound and pitched until the end of the game. He walked three, struck out three, and gave up no hits or runs.

​Tonight, the Grays will play at home again, facing the Gaithersburg Giants. Jarred Scott (Alabama Southern CC) is the Grays’ expected starting pitcher.