Blue Sox Game 3: Call the Cavalry, Blue Sox bats, Canberra errors invoke mercy rule

The third game of the Blue Sox-Cavalry series was played out tonight, with the Blue Sox getting the job done 13-3 in humid conditions at Blacktown Olympic Park. The game was very different from the first two games in the series. Perhaps it was the hot, wet air that had descended on the Park, but there were quite a few unorthodox plays and situations. Sydney showed that their lineup has some depth, with 8 of their hitters picking up hits. For Canberra, there were some positives offensively, but a few defensive lapses and some inconsistent pitching was enough to take the game away.

The teams took the field for the national anthem

The Blue Sox showed that they are a team who can get the ball in play and capitalise on the opportunities given to them. The scoreboard suggests that they really gave the Cavalry a flogging, but this was not really the case. They put the ball in play and ran hard. They were patient in the box when the Cavalry pitchers were struggling. All in all, they played smart baseball. Lundgren's outing was very solid, giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings, and striking out 4. Also impressive were Alex Johnson, who looked strong in the batting box; Mark Holland, who picked up three RBIs courtesy of his sixth inning double, and; David Kandilas, who continued to impress in all aspects - solid as a rock in right field, and a reliable and pesky nine hitter.

It wasn't all bad for the Cavalry. Steve Kent showed strong form again, it is just a shame he is not going longer into the game. While he struggled in the field, Michael Collins was handy with the bat, picking up three hits. Donald Lutz and Tom Vincent also showed some promise with the bat. The game might have ended differently if it wasn't for a few unfortunate defensive lapses in the sixth.

It looks like Glenn Williams is pretty settled on his lineup, but tonight he gave Boss Moanaroa a rest, giving Alex Johnson the start at first base. The Cavalry lineup was a little different to the lineup from the opener last week, with Michael Collins joining the team behind the dish, and a few other positional shifts coming in as a result.  

Since this was not the season opener, much of the pomp and ceremony was missing tonight, although it was still a reasonably slick presentation. The crowd was officially shown as just under a thousand, but it seemed pretty full and vocal from where I sat. There were no fireworks today, and no ex-Australian Idol contestant to sing the national anthem - although this was probably a good thing, at least we got all the words. The ground announcing and the music was good, but some special effects were playing up. One thing that is a negative is the beer. Not good Blue Sox. Not good at all. This 'Rocks Brewing Company' or whatever it is is not going to pick up any market share by force feeding the stuff to the patrons at Blue Sox games - sorry!

The crowd during the early innings of tonight's game

Wayne Lundgren took the mound for the Blue Sox, and started positively, retiring the side in order in the first. He showed plenty of control and power and threw only about half a dozen pitches in the first. Trent D'Antonio then stepped up to lead off the bottom of the inning with standing double to deep center. Things looked positive when this was backed up by a walk to Tim Auty. At this stage, Cavalry Ace Steve Kent looked a bit shaky and was having trouble finding the zone. With runners on one and two with none out, Mitch Dening then hit a deep fly ball to center, which allowed D'Antonio to progress to third. The old coach's adage of trying to score one run per inning looked a sure bet, until Pat 'Kwik-E' Maat stepped in and promptly grounded into an inning ending double play.

The top of the second came up, and I was excited to see Michael Collins play, as I have loosely followed his minor league travels over the past couple of years. And of course, any Aussie who features on a baseball card is a winner in my books [I am easily pleased], and Mikey happens to grace quite a few:

He left a good impression in the top of the second [though later in the game he had some defensive difficulties, more on that later] - hitting a crisp single to left field.  He the crossed the plate, following a hit to Tom Vincent and a couple of ground outs.  Kent then came out and retired the Blue Sox without much trouble, and the Cavalry led 1-0 after two innings.

The third inning saw Lundgren maintain his effectiveness, retiring the Cavalry without score despite a couple of walks. Like in the first game of the series, Steve Kent was then pulled from the game, to be replaced with veteran knuckleballer Phil Brassington.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the introduction of the knuckleballer was when things started to get a bit strange. Brassington had a little trouble finding the zone against the first hitter he faced - Dave Kandilas - and eventually hit him with a 2-2 fastball. Collins was having a little of trouble behind the dish, and bobbled quite a few of Brassington's knucklers. The walk to Kandilas brought up the top of the order, with D'Antonio stepping in. His patient approach drew him a walk, which moved Kandilas over to second. Brassington reverted to a few more fastballs [although 'straightball' would probably be closer to the mark], but still couldn't hit the zone with Tim Auty. He managed to throw one that got away from Collins, which moved the runners over. Auty then proceeded to smack single to left field, scoring both Kandilas and D'Antonio, and advancing to second on the throw.

Brassington then started to hit his straps some more, and struck out both Mitch Dening and Pat 'Kwik-E' Maat - but not before throwing another wild pitch, which allowed Auty to progress to third. Andy Graham then drove a single to left field, bringing in Auty, and taking it to 3-1 Blue Sox.

Another passed ball saw Graham move over to two. Then it was time for the Blue Sox to show that it was not just the Cavalry who could play some strange ball. Alex Johnson hit a strong shot out to right field, which brought Andy Graham home. Johnson though tried to make it to second, but was caught out by a strong throw from Collins to Didi Gregorius standing on second base.

The fourth and fifth innings passed without much to write home about. The top of the Canberra lineup really failed to get firing. In the bottom of the fifth, the Cavalry replaced Brassington with the younger, faster, Michael Lennox. With one out, Pat Maat earned a walk, and Andy Graham then hit a regulation double play ball straight to second baseman Andrew Schmidt. Schmidt tried to be a bit clever by passing the ball with his glove hand to Gregorius to turn the double. This was definitely one of those 'it seemed like a great idea at the time' moments for Schmidt, but it failed dismally, leaving Gregorius to be cleaned up royally by the rampaging Pat Maat, who came bustling into second. Alex Johnson then loaded the bases with a single to center, but Lennox was able to strike out Lysaught and Holland to end the inning.

The sixth inning was where this game was won and lost. The top of the inning was an exciting affair. The Blue Sox handed the ball to Shane Benson, and the Cavalry looked to Michael Collins again to lead things off. He did so, with a well hit single out to right field. Tom Vincent then stepped in and hit what should have been a routine double play ball. However, a deflection off Benson's glove meant second baseman Mark Holland was not able to get his balance, and he bobbled the ball, allowing Collins to progress to two, while Vincent reached first. Donald Lutz then stepped in and hit a booming fly ball to right field. If ever there was a play that highlighted why it would be great to have video screens available for replays at the BOP, it was this one. Collins and Vincent took off, both looking to score on the play, and Vincent showed real speed - both he and Collins came tumbling around third at the same time - Vincent literally in Collins' back pocket. Meanwhile, young David Kandilas, who has been really  impressive in the field, snared the ball quickly and fired it in to Pat Maat at the plate. Maat turned to see not one, but two runners bearing down on him. Somehow Collins managed to avoid the tag and score safely, but Vincent barrelled straight into him and was given out, as Maat managed to hold on to the ball.

In the bottom of the sixth - no doubt as a reflection on his troubles handling things behind the dish - Michael Collins was moved to first base, with Kyle Perkins coming in to catch. However, Collins was not able to avoid the action - on the first play Dave Kandilas smacked a hard hit ball to third. Cavalry third baseman Kyu-Hyun Moon did a great job of picking up the ball, but he threw it in the dirt to Collins at one. It was not an easy scoop, but one that most first basemen would get, but it was not Collins' night and he dropped it. Lucky for him the error was scored against Moon.

D'Antonio then struck out looking at a high fastball [hard luck after a 9-pitch at bat]. Tim Auty stepped in, and began striking some nails into the Cavalry coffin. Auty reached on a fielder's choice when Moon tried [and failed] to get Kandilas out at home. Dening was then out on an amazing catch to left fielder Seung-Hwa Lee to prevent him reaching base. So, with two outs Pat Maat stepped up and got a hit to center, moving Auty to  second. Pinch hitter Josh Dean then drew a walk to load the bases. Another wild pitch scored Auty and moved the other runners around, and Alex Johnson then walked to load the bases. Michael Lysaught then walked too, and this was enough for Canberra manager Steve Schrenk, who replaced Lennox with Luke Wilkins.

Wilkins did no favours for Lennox, serving up a fat pitch which Blue Sox second baseman Mark Holland feasted on - sending it screaming out to the left field warning track and clearing the bases. If that wasn't bad enough, David Kandilas then reached base for the second time in the inning, this time on a missed catch to right fielder Tom Vincent. D'Antonio then slapped a hit to center, and Auty reached base again when Moon booted a grounder. Eventually they managed to retire the side when Dening hit a weak grounder to short, which put Auty out at two. In the end, the Blue Sox came away with 8 runs, off 3 hits, 3 walks, 2 errors and a wild pitch.

The sixth inning for the Blue Sox was punctuated by a lot of little blue boxes - with eight runs coming in all up

Benson then closed out the Cavalry in the top of the seventh, and although Schmidt managed to score on a Michael Collins single, it wasn't enough, and the mercy rule was invoked. I was a little surprised when the announcer came on to say the game was over. There was a large Korean contingent present in the crowd, and like them I was looking forward to seeing Koo make a mess of the lefty-heavy Canberra lineup. But it wasn't to be tonight.

All in all it has been a dominant performance from the Blue Sox. They will face off against the Cavalry in the series finale Sunday at 1.30pm.