By Lonnie Turner
The Physicians Healthcare Yankees (9-4) are in first place in the DYB Major league, thanks to a 3-1 win by the Giants over the Hurricanes (8-4) in Monday’s lone major League game. It was the third straight loss for the ‘Canes. Tied at 1 run apiece through four innings, the Giants scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a base hit. Starting pitcher Reggie Graves was sailing along with a one-hitter, but ran into control problems hitting the lead-off batter in the fourth, who went to second on a wild pitch and to third as the result of an error.
Graves walked the next two batters to force in the lead run and gave way on the mound to D.J. Brogdon, who hit a batter to, to drive in the second run of the inning. The only hit for the Giants was a double by Hayden Perritt, who scored the tying run on an interference call at home. The Hurricanes had taken a 1-0 lead when Brogdon singled and advanced all the way around the bases, scoring as a result of two errors. Brogdon led all hitters with a pair of singles and Tripp Roberts had the other hit for the Canes.
With back to back wins over Burger King this week, McLeod Health has moved three games ahead of the Braves with only four games remaining on the schedule. On Monday, the Marlins scored 10 runs in five innings, to beat the Braves, 10-4, and on Tuesday, won by a 12-2 10-run mercy rule, 12-2. Jamison Hargrove was a perfect 3 for 3 and Xavien Rogers clouted out two hits in two times at bat, including driving in the winning run. In a losing cause, Bryce Patterson hit two doubles in two official times at bat for the Braves.
In Tuesday’s finale, the Pepsi Cola Blue Jays beat ACE Hardware, 7-1, behind the three-hit pitching of Hart Lockamy and the bat of Brody Cook, of the Burger King Braves, who was given permission to fill in for the Blue Jays, which were short two players. Marlin second baseman, Ryan Carter also played and scored a run for the winners.
