The Lakeshore Chinooks (11-18) took on the Green Bay Rockers (15-13) Friday night, with first pitch at 7:27 pm CST. After losing earlier in the day, the Chinooks looked for a rebound win as the season’s conclusion looms closer with each game. On the mound for the Chinooks was Mitch Alba, who entered the game with a 2-3 record and a 5.45 ERA in 33 innings of work.
Tonight the Chinooks recognized their faithful fans with a Fan Appreciation night that would see the night end with a fireworks display. Yet before the fireworks began, the Chinooks focused on securing a win to keep themselves within the second-half playoff race.
The Rockers started off the top of the first with a double and two walks in their first four batters, which loaded the bases. With one out, Alba and the Chinooks would do their best to limit the damage. One run came home for the Rockers, and Greenbay found themselves up with an early 1-0 lead.
The Rockers loaded the bases once again in the top of the second. After the leadoff man grounded out, Max Mims, Zane Zielinski, and Kendal Ewell singled back to back to back. After striking out a batter for out number two, a wild pitch sent Mims home for the Rocker’s second run of the game. After the two innings of play, the Rockers led 2-0.
The Rockers scored in the first, second, and fourth inning. They also loaded the bases in each of those innings. The game’s third run came in after a sac fly from Jayson Jones that scored Max Mims from third. In total, for having the bases loaded three times, the Rockers scored three runs out of them. Although Alba let runners get on base, he also limited the damage. Green Bay held a 3-0 lead after three and a half innings.
Four innings is all the work Mitch Alba received tonight. Alba ended with three earned runs, four strikeouts, four walks, and four hits. Zach Slome took over duties on the mound for the top of the fifth.
Slome walked the first batter he faced and let up a single to put runners on second and first. With one out, Cooper Kelley ripped a double to right field that scored AJ Anzai from first and Carlos Hernandez from second to increase the Rocker’s lead to 5-0. The Rocker’s final run of the inning came off a Zielinski RBI single that sent Kelley home after he stole third base.
Through 5.2 innings, the Rockers were no-hitting the Chinooks. Maddox Long has been impressive, shutting done the Chinook’s offense and keeping them off the scoreboard. To go along with the no-hitter, Long had seven punch-outs to his only two walks allowed. Finally, Sam Vomhof broke the no-hitter with a double to left field. The Chinooks, although with two outs, had two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh. Yet, Long struck out Matthew Deprey to end the inning and get his eighth strikeout of the game, which kept the Chinooks scoreless. After seven innings, the Rockers led by a score of 8-0.
Long went seven full innings tonight and allowed one hit, three walks, and ten punchouts with a total pitch count of 96. An impressive day no doubt. Replacing Long is Micah Berens to pitch the eighth inning for the Rockers. After eight innings, the Chinooks found themselves down eight runs. Needing a surge of offense, the Chinooks would have to dig deep to make a comeback.
Unfortunately, that comeback would never come, and the Chinooks lost this game 8-0.
After tonight, the Chinooks head to Green Bay for two road games.
