Pulaski, Bluefield split two in Calfee
Pulaski and Bluefield split a doubleheader Monday night in Pulaski.
Pulaski’s offense shined, as the River Turtles take down the Bluefield Ridge Runners 13-4 in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader.
Just like the last doubleheader at home, Pulaski put on a dominant inning to take Game One.
Bluefield started the game off with a bang, where a three-run no-doubter from designated hitter Tyler Cox put them up 3-0 after one.
A two RBI triple from second baseman Brian Nicolas then made the score 3-2 after two.
Pulaski tied it up in the fourth thanks to another RBI from Nicolas, this time a single to make it 3-3.
Bluefield took back the lead in the top of the fifth, with an RBI single from right fielder David Meech to make it 4-3.
Pulaski took complete control in the bottom of the fifth, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the frame. An RBI single from center fielder Rodney Green Jr. tied it back up 4-4. Then, RBI doubles from first baseman Owen Deshazo and shortstop Gage Goddard made it 7-4. Nicolas continued his success, adding on another RBI single to make it 8-4. Designated hitter Joe Kinneberg followed that up with the third RBI double of the inning to make it 9-4. An RBI ground-out from Green Jr. and an RBI single from catcher Konner Kinkade made it 11-4 after five.
Pulaski added on a couple of insurance runs in the sixth, where an RBI triple from Deshazo and an RBI ground-out made the final 13-4.
The win went to starter Santiago Guerrro. Despite a rocky start, Guerrero settled down to pitch a solid six innings, allowing four earned runs off six hits, walking two batters while striking out five. The loss went to Andrew Arguello, as he went 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs off seven hits, walking two while striking out five.
The Pulaski River Turtles fell to the Bluefield Ridge Runners 16-5 in Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader.
Spectators saw a completely different game played in the second half of the doubleheader, as Bluefield was on the offense this time around.
Just like Game One, Bluefield struck early. An RBI in-field single from left fielder Tyler Cox put Bluefield on the board. Another RBI single, this time from first baseman Jackson Feltner put Bluefield up 2-0. Then, just like a Game One, Bluefield hit a no-doubt three-run homer in the first. This home run came off the bat of right fielder Josh Heath to make it 5-0 after the top of the first.
In the bottom of the first, a sac-fly from shortstop Konner Kinkade made it 5-1.
Bluefield answered back with three runs in the second. An RBI double from designated hitter Grant Voytovich started the inning off for Bluefield. Then, Heath, in his next at-bat, hit an RBI triple to make it 7-1. The final run in the inning came off a dropped third strike to make it 8-1 after two.
Like the inning prior, Bluefield scored three runs in the frame. An RBI double from Voytovich and a 2 RBI single from Heath made it 11-1.
In the fourth, Voytovich added on another run, this time an RBI single to make it 12-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pulaski broke the scoring streak with an RBI triple from designated hitter Brian Nicolas to make it 12-2.
Bluefield added on another run in the fifth, with an RBI single from catcher Tim Nicholson to make it 13-2.
Bluefield continued to add on runs in the sixth, with an RBI groundout from Feltner and a two- run homer from Heath to make it 16-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, a pair of balks by Bluefield made it 16-4.
The solo scoreless inning by Bluefield came when Pulaski brought in infielder Joe Kinneberg for relief. Kinneberg showed a wide variety of pitches that threw off Bluefield’s batters and resulted in a scoreless top of the seventh.
The final run came in the bottom of the seventh, with a no-doubt solo shot from center fielder Rodney Green Jr. to make it 16-5.
The win went to Cole Hentschel, as he went two innings, allowing one earned run off one hit, while walking one and striking out four. The loss went to Nick Perez, who went two innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) off eight hits, while walking two and striking out four.
Pulaski looks for the series win on Tuesday in a rematch against the Bluefield Ridge Runners.
-Kyle Manalo