Eli Benes

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.- On Tuesday, August 4 the Lakeshore Chinooks faced Traverse City in hopes of sweeping the season series against the Pit Spitters 4-0. Their attempt fell short, as a three-run effort from Traverse City in the first inning was enough for a 4-1 win over the Chinooks.

Before allowing three runs to score in the open frame, the Chinooks scored their lone run in the top of the first inning. With Joshua Chairez on second base with two outs after a leadoff double, Sam Myers drove him in on a RBI single.

Handing an early lead to starting pitcher Christopher Romo, Romo failed to miss a single bat in the first inning, allowing three hits with runners in scoring position. Walking the leadoff batter in the third inning after a scoreless second inning, Romo was pulled for Zach Gibbs.

Completing just two innings of work, Romo’s start Tuesday night is the shortest of the season for the right hander. Coming in to pitch behind Romo, Gibbs repeated what Nate Ciemny did in Monday’s contest, going the distance as the only relief pitcher of the game for the Chinooks.

Allowing five hits in six innings of work, Gibbs only run allowed came in the sixth inning on a Lucas Grantham sacrifice fly. Trailing by three runs after six innings, the Chinooks put three batters on base, with zero of them scoring.

Matching the Pit Spitters in hits with eight, the Chinooks left seven runners on base with three of them stranded in scoring position. Scoring their fewest amount of runs in a single game since July 22, the Chinooks remain in first place with Wausau falling to Green Bay in extra innings Tuesday night.