(October 5, 2016 – Dallas, TX) Big sticks and solid pitching by Jonathan Duran were keys to success Wednesday night as the Dallas Spirits Fall squad rolled ast the Dallas Bulls, 12 to 2 while raising their first place standing in the NTABL Fall Ball Brazos Division to 7-0.
Cliff Brade joined Duran at the plate as high stakes winners, combining for 7 of the Spirits 15 hits. Brade showed up last minute, and for the second time in 2016 exited his vehicle to walk up as the lead off hitter and doubled to left-center field. Brade followed his no-warm up performance with 3 more singles, which included 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Duran stayed hot as well, going 3 for 4 with an RBI, run scored, and a stolen base.
Duran’s performance from the mound was solid once again, as he gave up only 2 hits, 2 runs (0 earned), and stuck out 5 Bulls hitters. Kyle Redinger made an appearance in the game’s final inning shutting down the 3 batters he faced, striking out 2.
“Another solid performance by the team. I’m really happy so far with everyone’s performance each game,” commented team manager Shawn Lee after the game. “Duran has been ridiculously good from the bump as well as from the plate. He’s proving he was certainly worthy of his All-Star Performance this summer and we look forward to his additional contributions. Cliff is always a solid performer as well. Best lead-off man in the league in my opinion and he always gets it done defensively.”
Lee contributed as well, adding a pair of singles as did Jason Bottenfield, who returned to action after missing the past 4 games. Bottenfield also added a pair of RBIs. Redinger also singled, scored, and added one RBI as did John Show. Jack Nash added a hit as well, including an RBI and 2 runs scored, and Brant Finchum added a hit and a run to close out your Spirits offense.
The game started a little slow as the Spirits picked up a run in the first leaving a runner on third before they shut down the Bulls in the bottom half of the inning. In the second however, the flood gates of offense opened wide. Finchum singled and stole second. He was then pushed to third on a sac fly by Lee. David Tipton walked and stole second leaving two on and one out before Nash singled to score Finchum. Tipton reached third on a throwing error and then scored on a single by Show. Brade singled to score Nash and Show scored on a single by Duran. Redinger continued the hitting streak with smash single past third scoring Brade, and both he and Duran scored on a single by Bottenfield.
The Spirits went on to score 3 more runs in the third inning and another in the fourth before cooling down and seeing the game end in six innings due to time constraints. Overall, the team was 15 for 31 from the plate with 14 singles and a double. Of the 12 runs scored, 9 were earned and Spirits pitching went 5 innings allowing 2 unearned runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, and combined for 7 strikeouts.
The fall squad returns to action Sunday afternoon as they host the Cubs starting at 3:30 PM at Jesuit College Preparatory.
Waxahachie Autoplex Players of the Game
#30 Cliff Brade (4-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI)
#17 Jonathan Duran (3-4, R, RBI, 4 IP, 2 H, 5 K)