(June 7, 2021 – Plano, TX) For the second game in a row, the Dallas Spirits found themselves incapable of getting a run across the plate as the Spirits (45+) squad fell at the hands of Troy Key and the Dallas Cardinals on Monday night.
After waiting nearly a month to play on a Monday due to rainfall that has plagued the Dallas area for nearly 4 weeks, the ghosts found opportunity but didn’t deliver when it mattered. Key went the distance for the Cardinals, holding the Spirits scoreless on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 2. Sean House took the hill for the Spirits and delivered well for 5 innings, allowing 2 earned on 4 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 7.
The Cardinals scored early, picking up a run in the top half of the first after Kevin Fought drew a one-out single and then scored on a hard-hit double by Jerry Anderson to give the birds a 1 to 0 lead. Kirk Sipila singled with one out and moved to third after Travis Hitzeman singled to put two on with one out for the ghosts in the latter half of the inning. Shawn Lee went down on a caught foul-tip third strike and a pitch later, John Hefner popped out short to the Cardinals outfield to end the opportunity.
The game remained in check until the fourth when Anderson picked up his second extra base hit on the night with a triple to the wall in right-center. Jerry Gamez grounded out but was able to advance Anderson home to provide what would turn out to be insurance and the Cardinal went on to win, 2 to 0.
Opportunity struck a second time for the Spirits after David Tipton tripled to the wall with one out in the fifth, but Brian Hackney was called out on a questionable strike three call and Patrick Bilgere flew out to end the inning. The last hope at making it a game came in the bottom of the seventh after Lee doubled with one out to pick up his second hit on the night. Hefner grounded out and Lee was held at second and House grounded out to end the game.
The loss drops the Spirits record to 4-2 in NTABL Masters League play, with both losses at the hands of the Cardinals who hold the top position at 6-0. The Spirits return to action next Monday night when they host the Dallas Bulls at Reverchon Park in uptown, Dallas. First pitch is 7:00PM and you can click here for schedule details.
Core Physical Medicine Players of the Game
Shawn Lee (2-3, 2B)
David Tipton (1-2, 3B)
Sean House (5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)