Strong Start Offers Bright Spots as Sluggers Fall in Opening Night Battle
FINDLAY, OH — The Lima Locos scored eight runs over the final three innings to defeat the Flag City Sluggers 10-6 in their season opener on Friday night.
A crowd of 552 watched the two teams trade the lead before Lima (1-0) pulled away late with an 11-hit performance, spoiling the home opener for Flag City (0-1).
The Sluggers took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mickey Anderson hit a two-run double off Lima starter B.C. Harrison.
Lima tied the game in the fourth inning. Jimmy Dionne hit an RBI double to score Cameron Greene, and Grant McGuire followed with another RBI double to make it 2-2. Flag City took the lead back in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Mason Jacob, ending Harrison's night after 4.2 innings.
Sluggers starter Dominic Elia pitched well, striking out seven batters over 6.1 innings, but the game changed when the bullpens took over.
In the top of the seventh, Jin Kasuya hit a leadoff double and Avery Wilson followed with a three-run home run off reliever Ben Best, giving Lima a 5-3 lead. Dionne added an RBI single later in the inning to extend the lead to 6-3.
Greene hit an RBI single in the eighth, and Lima added three more runs in the ninth—including another RBI from Wilson—to push the lead to 10-4.
Michael Strickland (1-0) earned the win in relief for Lima, pitching three innings, allowing one run, and striking out three.
The Sluggers scored one run in the eighth on a Braden Sprague fielder's choice. They attempted a rally in the ninth, scoring two runs on an Atticus Huffstutler fielder's choice and an Anderson RBI single, but Konner Quinn struck out Cameron Spezia to end the game.
The series move to Lima on Saturday with the pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.
Key Statistics
Lima Locos
Avery Wilson (CF): 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Jimmy Dionne (1B): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Grant McGuire (RF): 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
Michael Strickland (P): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 SO (Win)
Flag City Sluggers
Mickey Anderson (CF): 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI
Miles Mitchell (3B): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R
Timothy Leark (RF): 2-for-3, 3B, R
Dominic Elia (P): 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 7 SO (No-Decision)
