Wk 3: Wonders nip Phils; Plug Uglies implode Goats

Nabil Hannoush and his shadow

Wednesday night

Phillies 2, Wonder Boys 3 (8 inn.)

WP: C. Ciepiela, LP: M. Strubel

The Ageless Wonders™ bested Miracle Max Strubel and the Phillies 3-2 with a walk-off win in extra innings at Herlihy.

Chris Ciepiela, who came on in the 8th after 7 strong innings by Nabil Hannoush, got the vulture win. Strubel took a complete game loss despite giving up just 3 runs and racking up 12 (!) strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.

The Wonders took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st and doubled it with a solo run in the 4th to make it 2-0.

The plucky Phils knotted things up in the top of the 7th with 2 runs, and Strubel shut them down in the bottom of the inning to send things to overtime.

Ciepela came in in relief in the top of the 8th and did what she always does, namely a ton of ground-ball outs to ready and waiting infielders. Faster than you could say 'bing, bang, boom' it was onto the bottom of the 8th.

With one out, Andy Martindale stroked a single and then stole second, and then advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. The next batter struck out, leaving it all up to Jim Healy who rapped a single between 3rd and short to drive in the winner. Andy Kliepecki got a glove on it and knocked it down, but did not have enough time to get either Healy at first, or Martindale at the plate.

Thursday night

Fainting Goats - 0, Plug Uglies 12 (6 inn)

WP: Jon Adolph, LP: Rick Stacy

The Plug Uglies introduced themselves to the expansion Goats with a fine how-do-you-do.
John Adolph went the distance, giving up no runs on 4 hits, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

Rick Stacy went 5 1/2 striking out 6, walking 2, and giving up 11 hits. Mike O'Donnell came on in relief to get the final 2 outs, including a big punch-out to end the inning.

For the Goats, it was a death-of-a-thousand-cuts scenario. Shorthanded and with several players out of position, the Goats squandered a good showing by Stacy by digging themselves a hole they could never get out of. Errors, missed throws and balls dropping in set the tone in this one.
The Plugs scored 2 in the first with a 2-out single by Jeff Cabana, 3 in the 3rd on 2-0ut singles by Adolph and Benji Benjamin, 2 in the 3rd on a single by Sam Mead and a sac groundout by Chris Scanlon, 3 in the 4th on singles by Adolph, and Mo Partee.

In addition to Adolph keeping the Goats off balance, he was helped out by flashes of great D. The Goats' one scoring threat was vaporized in the 4th when right fielder Jack Wileden chased down sinking fly ball that was slicing away from him and turned it into a double play.

For Goat highlights, Dan Provost was 2 for 3 and stole a base.