Sluggers Blow Out First-Place Locos 12-2 in 7-Innings
FINDLAY, OH — In their most dominant performance of the summer, the Flag City Sluggers made a resounding statement on Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. Facing the first-place Lima Locos, the Sluggers exploded for an eight-run fifth inning and racked up 13 hits en route to a stunning 12-2, seven-inning mercy-rule victory in front of 400 fans.
With the blowout win, Flag City moves back above the .500 mark at 20-19 on the season, handing the juggernaut Locos just their 10th loss of the summer (30-10).
Flag City grabbed early momentum when Drew Tajblik sparked the offense in the first, coming around to score after leading off with a double. The Sluggers padded their lead in the third and fourth behind run-producing hits from Atticus Huffstutler, Mickey Anderson, and Braden Sprague to move ahead 4-0.
Lima scraped across a run in the top of the fifth, but Flag City responded with absolute thunder in the bottom half.
The Sluggers blew the game completely wide open in the bottom of the fifth, sending 12 batters to the plate against Lima reliever Ryan Yingst. Atticus Huffstutler delivered the knockout blow with a clutch three-run single, while Trenten Smith, Drew Tajblik, and Andrew Tucker all added RBI knocks in the eight-run barrage to stretch the lead to 12-1.
That was more than enough support for Sluggers starter Tate Martino (4-0), who was dominant on the hill. Martino scattered six hits over 6.0 strong innings, striking out eight and allowing just two earned runs to earn his fourth win. Brett Reed tossed a scoreless seventh, striking out two to officially trigger the seven-inning run rule.
Key Stats
Flag City Sluggers
Atticus Huffstutler (1B): 1-for-2, 3 RBI, R, Sac
Drew Tajblik (LF): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Trenten Smith (SS): 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Mickey Anderson (CF): 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB
Braden Sprague (C): 3-for-4, RBI, R
Tate Martino (P): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO (W, 4-0)
Lima Locos
Cameron Owens (CF): 2-for-2, 2 BB, R, 5 SB
Braylon Cordonnier (3B): 2-for-3, R
Taylor Echols (P): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (L, 3-2)
Up Next
The Sluggers will look to carry this momentum forward as they travel to Lima on Friday.
