(August 8, 2019 – Plano, TX) Call them bipolar if you want to, but the see-saw lose bad and win big campaign continues for the Spirits (35+) squad as they rolled the Knights by a score of 11 to 1 Monday night at Graham Field in game one of a double-header slated against two different foes.
The ghosts combined for 9 hits and still put up big numbers despite leaving 8 runners on base throughout the night. Eric McPherson padded his stats and led the box score with a 2-for-4 performance from the dish that included a double, 2 runs score, and 3 runs batted in. Pitcher, Jonathan Duran once again went the distance to pick up the complete-game win, finishing the evening by giving up no earned runs on 5 hits, while walking just one and striking out 4.
The Spirits jumped out to a 2 to 0 lead in the top half of the first after Cliff Brade reached on one of 5 Knights fielding errors during the game. Brade stole second base and then advanced to third after McPherson reached on a single. McPherson then stole second to put both runners in scoring position and Kirk Sipila followed with an RBI single to break the ice. Craig Molldrem drew a base-on-balls to load the bags and Shawn Lee and Patrick Bilgere both went down swinging and it appeared the Knights may leave the inning with minimal damage. David Tipton showed patience at the plate, however and drew a walk to score McPherson to give the Spirits a 2 to 0 lead before Bobby Kornhauser flew out to end the inning.
Duran held the Knights scoreless and the Spirits tacked on 3 more runs in the second inning and did so all with two outs. Duran reached on a 2-out error and John Hefner followed by reaching on another Knights fielding error. Duran swiped third base and after Brade was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for McPherson. McPherson decked a double to the left-center field gab and all three runners were able to score to give the Spirits a 5 to 0 lead before Sipila grounded out to end the fun.
Things remained quiet until the fourth inning when Tipton reached on a lead off single. Tipton stole second base and Korhauser flew out for the first out in the inning. Tipton then advanced to third on a single by Brant Finchum and another single, this time by Earl German, plated Tipton and it was 6 to 0, Spirits. Duran reached on a fielder’s choice that squeezed German, but Finchum was able to score on the play and the ghosts led, 7 to 0.
The Spirits picked up three more runs in the fifth after Brade reached on an error and McPherson also reached on an error. Sipila loaded the bases after drawing a walk and another walk to Molldrem scored Brade. Lee hit an RBI single to score McPherson and Sipila would score later following a sacrifice fly by Bilgere to give the Spirits a 10 to 0 lead.
The Spirits made it 11 to 0 in the seventh after Hefner doubled and then scored on a single by Brade. The Knights rallied for a run in the bottom half of the seventh by it was over less the crying as the Spirits finished with an 11 to 1 win.
Core Physical Medicine Players of the Game
Eric McPherson (2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB)
Kirk Sipila (1-3, R, RBI, BB)
Jonathan Duran (WP – 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, BB, 4 K)