After a frustrating loss on Friday night to open the second half, which was their second straight loss of the series, the Fredericksburg Nationals gored the RidgeYaks for nine runs in the first five innings and cruised to a 10-2 win.
But it wasn’t pretty. Neither the pitcher nor the umpire seemed to know what the strike zone was, which led to some high pitch counts – 54 in two innings by Salem’s Christian Fouch, 58 in three innings for Fredericksburg’s Grant Manning.
The RidgeYaks loaded the bases with one out in the 1st on a two singles and a walk. Light-hitting Louis Andujar battled Manning for six fouloffs before finally swinging through for the second out. Salem then hit a dying quail to no man’s land in shallow left by Rafael Ramirez Jr. made a highlight-reel, over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning.
It was pretty much all Fredericksburg after that. Jorgelys Mota launched a 421′ foot bomb with two out and a runner for the first of three consecutive two-spots as the FredNats drew none of their 11 walks on the night in the first five innings.
Luke Johnson came on in the 4th and turned in four innings of relief, losing the shutout in the 6th as he gave up four hits that would have been worse but for Nick “Power to the” Peoples gunning down RidgeYaks catcher Kleyver Salazar trying to stretch a leadoff single into a Little League double after Peoples misplayed the hit initially.
Peoples doubled once and singled twice while Manuel Cabrera singled three times to lead the FredNats attack of ten hits and 11 walks total.
The two teams conclude their third and final series this afternoon. DJ Herz is expected to make his second rehab outing.