Locos Answer Back to Edge Sluggers 11-1 at Simmons Field
LIMA, OH — Just one night after the Flag City Sluggers handed the Lima Locos a blowout loss, the first-place Locos returned the favor. Powered by late-inning offense and 10 total walks, Lima answered back on Friday night at Simmons Field with an 11-1, seven-inning victory in front of 745 fans.
With the setback, the Sluggers move back to a perfectly even 20-20 mark on the summer, while the league-leading Locos improve to 31-10.
Lima grabbed the early advantage in the bottom of the second, scratching across three runs against Sluggers starter Caden Otterbacher (0-2) behind a pair of walks and timely contact.
Flag City cut into the lead in the top of the fourth when second baseman Andrew Tucker launched a solo home run over the wall to make it a 3-1 game. However, the Sluggers' offense was otherwise held in check by Lima starter Carson Klausing (1-0), who allowed just three hits over 4.0 innings of work.
The Locos broke the game open in the middle frames, capitalizing on three Flag City errors to push across four unearned runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth off reliever Ben Best.
Lima added two final runs in the bottom of the seventh to trigger the mercy rule, sealing the 11-1 final score. Callaghan O'Connor needed just nine pitches in a clean seventh inning to close out the victory for the home team.
Key Stats
Flag City Sluggers
Andrew Tucker (2B): 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
Drew Tajblik (LF): 1-for-1, 2 BB, SB
Brandon North (C): 1-for-3
Ben Best (P): 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
Lima Locos
Grant McGuire (1B): 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Cameron Owens (CF): 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Braylon Cordonnier (3B): 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB
Desmond Francis (RF): 1-for-2, 2 RBI, BB
Carson Klausing (P): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (W, 1-0)
Up Next
The Sluggers will host the Lima Locos on Saturday for the last game of the season. First pitch is 6:05pm.
