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DeVinny launches game winning home run to lead Eau Claire to Victory
It was a back and forth affair between the Eau Claire Express and the Waterloo Bucks on Monday night but a pair of home runs gave the Express a 9-7 victory at Carson Park and snapped their 3-game losing streak.
With the game tied 7-7 in the bottom of the 8th inning Express catcher Tanner DeVinny took a 2-1 count and drilled it over the right-field fence to give Eau Claire the lead. Victor Sanchez would come in to pitch a scoreless 9th inning and give the Express a victory.
“I found a pitch up in the zone that I was able to put good wood on,” said DeVinny. “I hit it and I knew it was going out.”
DeVinny had been struggling so far this season with 2 hits in his first 20 at bats. But a 2 hit night that included a double, 2 walks, and the game winning home run, he believes that hit could be just what he needed.
“It felt good off the bat,” said DeVinny. “But it also felt good to finally get some weight off my shoulders.”
Eau Claire was down by four runs in the 6th inning, but RBIs from third baseman Daulton Varsho and left fielder Tyler Jones brought the Express within two runs.
One inning later the Express would tie the game 7-7 after a monster 2-run home run by right fielder Tyler Adkison. With the players excited and cheering, Field Manager Dale Varsho liked what he saw what was happening in the dugout.
“We had some energy today so that was good,” said Varsho. “Hopefully we can bring energy like that every game.”
DeVinny said he couldn’t contain himself after watching Adkison’s 2-run bomb sail over the right-field fence.
“If you go back and watch the game tape I’m standing on top of the dugout pumping my fist,”said DeVinny. “As soon as he hit it I’m like man, that’s gone.”
The Express totaled 12 hits as 4 different players had 2-hit games. Besides DeVinny, Adkison was 2-4 with 2 RBI and a double and first baseman Travon Benton added 2 singles and an RBI. Brady Burzynski had a few circus catches in centerfield to go along with 2 singles and 2 RBI. Varsho was impressed with the way his team swung the bats.
“It’s nice that we didn’t give up. We kept battling, had good at bats,” said Varsho. “That’s kind of what it takes.”
However he thought there was much more they could have done to win the ball game as the Express gave up 7 runs and committed 3 errors.
“We didn’t field the ball very well,” said Varsho. “We’ve got to shore some things up, pitch more strikes and battle every at bat.”
The Express improve to 5-9 on the season and split the series with the Waterloo Bucks. After the biggest win of the season so far the Express, DeVinny can sense his team starting to pull something together.
“There aren’t enough words to explain it. Being a part of guys that never played together and never been on the same team be able to come together like that,” said DeVinny. “It’s incredible.”
The Express stay at home for one game against the Lakeshore Chinooks tomorrow night. DeVinny thinks his team can use tonight to build something more.
“Everyone talks about team chemistry. It started flowing tonight,” said DeVinny. “It was one of the most fun baseball games I’ve ever been a part of.”
Tomorrow’s game is set for 6:35 p.m. at Carson Park.
