Firebirds commit record 10 errors in loss to Pirates

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. — The longest losing streak in franchise history for the Farmington Firebirds now includes one of the most dismal defensive performances as well.

Farmington slipped to its 14th consecutive loss by committing a single-game team record of 10 errors on Tuesday night, as the first-place Tradewater Pirates rolled to a 10-2 victory at Riverside Park.

Tradewater (27-13) received numerous extra outs on miscues, including three which led directly to three runs in the fifth inning. Richard Atwood and Mike Finigan each finished 2-for-4 as five Pirates collected multiple hits.

Firebirds starter Andy Moss (2-3) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a double play in the first inning, but allowed 10 hits while striking out seven in the loss. Only five of the nine runs scored against Moss over 4 1/3 innings were earned.

Mike Ritson struck out five over five innings to earn the win for Tradewater, allowing just one run on three hits. Utility player Payne Spence worked three frames in relief, retiring his final six batters.

Justin Long doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the second, and a wild throw allowed Matt Kulbacki to head home with two outs in the third for a 2-0 lead. Nate Wright extended the third with a double, and reached base five times overall with four walks.

Farmington tallied its initial run when lead-off man Dallas Williams singled home Zane Walker in the fifth. Williams finished 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases to lead the Firebirds (5-32).

Tradewater sent 10 batters to the plate and collected four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Will Cartwright and Sean Mahley picked up back-to-back singles after Andy Gerhartz sliced a double to right field.

Cartwright scored from third when a routine throw to the mound trickled away following a pitch, and Atwood made it 9-1 with a sacrifice fly.

Kurt Driemeyer, who was picked off at second base early in the action, doubled to right and scored on a Kyle Wampler RBI single in the sixth for Farmington.

The teams will conclude their series with a double-header today at 5 p.m.

Farmington  000 011 000 - 2  5  10

Tradewater  011 340 10x - 10  12  2

WP - Ritson 5i 1r 0er 3h 5k 3bb.

LP - Moss 4 1/3i 9r 5er 10h 7k 3bb.

Hitting:

Farmington - Williams 2-4, Wampler 1-2, Walker 1-3, Driemeyer 1-4. 2b - Driemeyer.

Tradewater - Atwood 2-4, Finigan 2-4, Gerhartz 2-5, Cartwright 2-5, Mahley 2-6, Wright 1-1, Long 1-5. 2b - Wright, Gerhartz, Atwood.