Oilers ride fast start past Firebirds

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

FARMINGTON — The Owensboro Oilers pounced for four runs in the opening inning on Monday night, and never looked back in a 6-2 victory that handed the Farmington Firebirds their ninth straight loss.

Tom Freeman punctuated the early rally for Owensboro (22-12) with a two-run homer to left field, and finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. Joe Grinstead went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored, while Justin Ritchhart added a pair of singles.

Grinstead opened the scoring with a RBI triple after Firebirds starter Nick Johnson (1-4) issued his first of six walks to lead-off batter Royle Beach. A deep sacrifice fly from Tony Gliffe made it 2-0.

Kyle Switalski (2-2) notched seven strikeouts and allowed no earned runs despite giving five walks over five innings. Switalski faced his most difficult roadblock when the Firebirds tallied two runs in the third.

An error loaded the bases with no outs after Zane Walker singled, and a bases-loaded walk to Dallas Williams put the Firebirds on the scoreboard. Juan Favela trimmed the deficit to 4-2 with an infield single off the pitcher.

The Oilers restored their four-run margin in the fifth with the aid of three walks, as Freeman ripped a RBI single to left. A perfect throw to the plate from Walker prevented a second man from scoring on the hit.

The Firebirds (5-27), who committed no defensive errors, stranded a total of 15 runners on the night, and wasted a pair of lead-off doubles from designated hitter Casey Jones in the fifth and ninth innings.

Reliever Chris Burton worked three shutout frames for the Oilers, and earned a key strikeout during the sixth after a Williams double placed two men in scoring position.

Farmington loaded the bases against John Harendeen with no outs in the ninth when the sprinkler system at Wilson-Rozier Park suddenly delayed the action for five minutes. Harendeen then eliminated the threat with three consecutive strikeouts against the bottom of the order.

The bright spot for the Firebirds was provided by the debut of hurler Mark Lupkey, who retired his first seven batters while pitching four scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Patrick Slattery singled and reached base five times, including two catcher’s interference calls. Favela added a single in the seventh to finish 2-for-4.

The teams will continue their three-game series tonight at 8 p.m.

Owensboro  400 020 000 - 6  8  4

Farmington  002 000 000 - 2  7  0

WP - Switalksi 5i 2r 0er 4h 7k 5bb.

LP - Johnson 5i 6r 6er 6h 1k 6bb.

Hitting:

Owensboro - Freeman 3-4, Grinstead 2-4, Ritchhart 2-4, Beach 1-3. 3b - Grinstead. HR - Freeman (1).

Farmington - Favela 2-4, Jones 2-5, Slattery 1-2, Williams 1-3, Walker 1-5. 2b - Jones 2, Williams.