Robert Gary Ingram
June 9, 2008
Marilyn Chapman Moore
June 11, 2008
To snap the Sonic Red Sox three-game losing streak, coach John Gatlin went to the videotape.
“We came out here and filmed our hitters in the cage to see some of the mistakes they’ve been making,” he said. “We put it on a TV screen for them to see themselves, and I really think it’s starting to pay off.
It certainly did for the Terrebonne High-based team as they pounded Patterson 8-2 Thursday night at Tiger Field.
The Red Sox (3-4) pounced with four runs and the entire lineup batted in the first inning.
With runners on first and third and Brian Bergeron at bat, Patterson starter Brett Dore tried to pick off Red Sox starter Stephen Daigneault at first. The ball got away and Stephen Thomas scored from third for a 1-0 lead. Bergeron (1-for-2) singled on the next pitch to plate Daigneault.
Later in the inning, Bergeron scored on a fielder’s choice putout at second and Kendall Martinez (1-for-3, 3RBIs) singled home Mike Williams for a 4-0 Red Sox advantage.
“They put the ball in play,” said Patterson head coach Ryan Jensen. “They kept hitting it and kept hitting it and made us make plays.”
“We started talking about having a plan up there instead of just coming up swinging the bat,” retorted Gatlin. “They understand when you have runners in scoring position, you have to hit to opposite field to knock them in.”
Sonic added another run in the fourth when a Thomas groundout plated Taylor Caro from third.
Patterson (3-3) finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning. Williams’ error at shortstop sent Devin Barthelemy home from third; then Tyler Thacker’s dropped ball in centerfield plated Dore from second base.
However, four Patterson errors and a balk in the bottom half of the inning scored three runs for the Sonic.
With the based loaded, Dore was called for a balk, plating Bergeron. Next at-bat, Patterson third baseman Nick Nolon cleanly fielded Martinez’s grounder, but short hopped the throw to first base in the dirt allowing Josh Smith and Nelson Funk to score.
“I actually thought we pitched pretty well; we just didn’t play defense,” said Jensen. “We made a bunch of errors. It was probably our worst game of the summer so far.”
Daigneault got the win pitching five innings, and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Williams threw two innings in relief.
Dore took the loss going five innings, and allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits.
Gatlin hopes this game is a breakthrough for his club, but he will keep the camcorder on hand just to be sure.
“It was refreshing to watch them hit the ball tonight,” he said. “It really was.”
As Stephen Thomas charges down the line, Patterson first baseman Justin Jenkins can’t handle the throw during the first inning. Sonic handily defeated Patterson 8-2 in last week’s matchup. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
