Grays sweep Giants, climb into first place

The DC Grays went on the road to take on the Gaithersburg Giants Sunday, and came home with two wins – one a slugfest, one a pitchers' duel.  

The Grays started the first game red hot, scoring eight runs in the opening frame.  The big hits were an RBI double from TJ Addonizio (Richmond), a two-run single from Carter Jenkins (Nicholls State), and RBIs from Noel Rivera (Marist) and Andy Rivera (Holy Family).  Gaithersburg helped the Grays' cause with three walks and a wild pitch in the inning.  

By the sixth inning, DC lead 9-4 – and then the Grays put the game away.  Noel Rivera walked in a run, and Rocco Gilbert (Alabama State) drove in two with a clutch single to make the score 12-4.  The Giants got hot in the late innings, but could only make the final score a little closer.  At the end of the seven-inning opener, the Grays pocketed a 12-8 win.

Game two was less-action packed on the bases, but more dominant on the mound. 

Ethan Nagy (Lock Haven) would take the mound for his third start of the season. He threw a gem. Five scoreless innings, just four hits allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts. With every pitch he threw, Nagy proved he was the best player on the diamond in game two. 

The Grays again scored early, albeit with help from some leaky Giants' defense.  Marc Quarrie (Wofford) advanced to first base on an error, scoring Soong to take the lead 1-0 in the first.  Addonizio walked in the fourth to score Quarrie, doubling the Grays lead at 2-0. 

Jamie Whittier (Wofford) relieved Nagy in the sixth. His first inning was smooth sailing, with Whittier striking out two. He allowed one unearned run in the seventh before shutting the door on Gaithersburg.  

The win put DC in first place in the South Division of the Ripken League, as the Grays return home to take on the Olney Cropdusters Monday at Woodbridge HS. First pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm.