Just too many mistakes… Error-prone E-Twins fall to Bristol, 11-6
Published 6:00 am Friday, June 28, 2019
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twin first baseman Albee Weiss stretches to corral a throw from catcher Alex Isola after after a third strike got away. The Pirate runner was safe after Weiss couldn't make the catch.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders An Elizabethton base runner is called safe on a steal attempt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twin centerfielder Willie Joe Garry Jr. beats the throw from the Bristol catcher to swipe second base in Wednesday's contest at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twin shortstop Spencer Steer has the ball in glove well ahead of an attempted steal by a Bristol runner to record the out.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton reliever Erik Cha delivers a pitch to a Bristol batter.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton catcher Alex Isola chases a Bristol runner back toward third baseman Seth Gray. After a series of rundowns, the runner was finally tagged out.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton Twins second baseman Anthony Prato flips the ball to shortstop Spencer Steer to make a force out at second base.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins mascot, Rookie, is superstitous as he jumps across the foul line.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A youngster participates in one of the between-inning games that the Twins marketing team puts on during each home game.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Shortstop Spencer Steer awaits his turn on the on-deck circle for Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Erik Cha offers a pitch during Wednesday night's contest against Bristol.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton head coach Ray Smith goes over the situation with his reliever, Erik Cha, after making a pitching change in the top of the first inning.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders E-Twins starting pitcher Ryley Widell sets to release a pitch against Bristol.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton starting pitcher Ryley Widell fires a pitch toward home plate. Widell lasted only 2/3 of an inning before being lifted by manager Ray Smith.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
On Wednesday night at Northeast Community Credit Union ballpark, the Elizabethton Twins found every which way to give the game away to Bristol.
The Twins committed five errors leading to five unearned runs in an 11-6 loss to the Pirates.
The BriBucs came in having scored just 13 runs in seven games, but the Twins pitching and defense was suspect enough for the Pirates to almost double their season’s scoring output in one game.
Twins starting pitcher Riley Widell (0-2, 9.64) didn’t make it through the first frame with all of Bristol’s runs coming with two away.
Widell retired Jesus Valdez and Aaron Shackelford before giving up a double to Eli Wilson.
He then walked the next two hitters with a wild pitch bringing home the first Pirates run. An infield hit brought home another run and a double off the bat of Francisco Acuna plated two more for a 4-0 Bristol advantage.
Lefthander Erik Cha came on in relief and retired Valdez to end the extended top of the first. More damage occurred in the top of the second as Bristol sent eight batters to the plate scoring three more runs for a 7-0 lead.
Two Twins infield errors played a significant role in the scoring with Chase Murray and Acuna each collecting an RBI hit in the frame.
Elizabethton (4-4) pushed a run across in the third on a two-bagger from shortstop Spencer Steer but gave that right back in the top of the fourth on an RBI double from Ernny Ordonez for an 8-1 contest.
Steer drove in a pair of runs in the fourth with his second double of the game and catcher Alex Isola also had a ribbie base knock as the Twins cut the deficit to 8-4.
Steer finished the night 4-for-5 and raised his batting average to .412.
“I just try to line it up the middle and hit where it’s pitched,” Steer said. “A lot of these guys try to work you away and when they want to live out there, you have to shoot it to right field. That’s kind of what I’m working on right now.”
The Twins inched closer in the fifth on a two-run homer from Albee Weiss who delivered with Seth Gray aboard on a single.
Twins catcher Isola committed his second throwing error of the game on a third strike and Jean Eusebio ended up scoring on a sacrifice bunt from Josh Bissonette and Bristol (2-6) moved to a 9-6 advantage.
A single from Wilson brought home another Bristol run as the Pirates took a 10-6 lead.
“I don’t think we can expect more when you have a crooked number up there in the error column,” Twins manager Ray Smith said. “When you have a free-swinging bunch and we give them extra outs, we had a tough time with it.
“Our starter gave us just two-thirds of an inning and we walked way too many guys and let guys get on by kicking the ball around allowing innings to extend. I’m surprised they only scored 11 runs.”
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Bristol 11-6
Bristol 430 100 210 – 11 13 0
E-Twins 001 320 000 – 6 11 5
W – McGough. L – Widell.
