Everything clicks in Grays victory

​GAME RECAP (7/20/2016)

DCGrays.com Press: Josh Shelton

Gloves, bats and arms seemed to all be on the same page for the DC Grays in the regularly scheduled nine inning game against the Vienna River Dogs on Wednesday night in Washington. With excellent pitching, two homers from an expected spot, and a defensive clinic at second base, the Grays cruised to a 4-1 win. The Grays moved to 12-25 with the win. While mathematically out of a playoff berth, the Grays can play the villain against their remaining opponents.

Starter Bryan Quillens (Eastern Kentucky) isn’t accustomed to being the first pitcher in the game, but he performed exceptionally in this new role. Quillens had a no hitter through six and a third innings before giving up two consecutive hits (the only two of his start) and a single earned run. In his seven innings of work, he also recorded eight strikeouts before being replaced by reliever Evan Jordan (Southeastern Louisiana). Jordan pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

On the other side of the diamond, the Grays outplayed the River Dogs throughout the entire game. DH Drake Hollingsworth (Alabama-Huntsville) had a two run double in the third inning and the Grays never looked back. In the next inning, C Evan Pace led off with a solo home run to left to push the lead to 3-0. Pace wasn’t done – in the bottom of the eighth he hit another scorcher of a homer over the left-center fence, all but winning the game.

On defense, one player shone brighter than any other. 2B Eric Sloper (Shepherd) flashed the leather with ease Wednesday night. He added an exclamation point to his defensive performance in the eighth with a diving, twisting catch in shallow center to rob River Dog’s Owen Socher of a base hit for the second straight at bat.

The Grays will try and finish the season on a high note as they play a seven-inning double header against the Herndon Braves Thursday at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy. First pitch for the first game will be at 5:00pm and the second game will begin 30 minutes following the final out of the first game.