(September 21, 2022 – Euless, TX) Each and every Dallas Spirits player recorded a minimum of one hit on Wednesday night but that wasn’t the storyline in the Spirits victory over the Brewers. Big arm, Craig Molldrem once again paved a path to victory for the ghosts as he was perfect through 4 innings before Bruce Raspberry time one of his pitches correctly for a single to right centerfield to break up the no-hit bid.
Molldrem went on to strike out 15 Brewers hitters, including striking out the side 3 different times. Molldrem allowed no runs, the one single, and walked zero to raise is record to 3-0 on the fall season, and lifting the Spirits overall record to 4-0. In three games of work, Molldrem has fanned 35 and walked just one.
On the offensive side of things, the Spirits were again without their top two hitters in the form of Travis Hitzeman and Kirk Sipila. A few others were missing from the lineup as well, including Shawn Hunt, who finished last week’s doubleheader with 5 hits, and Shawn Lee, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Eric McPherson, Will Nash, and Earl German each finished with a pair of hits on the night, with Nash also adding a base-on-balls. Stacy Scott added a hit and a pair of RBIs, while German scored twice on the night.
The Brewers starter seemed to keep Spirits bats in check, allowing just a pair of earned runs off of 5 hits while walking one and striking out 3 during 3 innings of work. Joe Cano came in during the 4th and allowed 4 runs against 7 hits while walking one.
Molldrem struck out the side to start the game and the Spirits left one stranded after Nash singled in the bottom half of the first. Molldrem again struck out the side in the second and the Spirits offense showed signs of life after German singled with one out. Chris Lewis followed with a single to push German to second, and a follow up single by David Tipton loaded the bags. Scott was later hit by a pitch to earn the easy and painful RBI and the Spirits led 1 to 0 before McPherson flew out and Eric Goetz grounded out to close the inning.
Molldrem added another pair of Ks outside of a groundout to shut down the Brewers third, and the Spirits rebounded with run number two after Nash led off with a walk. Molldrem reached on a fielder’s choice after grounding to the pitcher. Goetz, who was running for Nash was caught in a rundown that ended up with him safe at third base. Molldrem attempted to harvest second during the run down and was tagged out on a relay back to second to record the inning’s first out. Goetz was able to score on a wild pitch before Sopocy singled and was eventually left on base after German flew out and Lewis went down on strikes.
The Spirits added another pair of runs in the fourth after Tipton was walked to lead off the inning. Tipton promptly swiped second and later advanced to third on a passed ball. Scott lined out to the Brewers shortstop, but an errant throw trying to pick Tipton at third allowed Tipton to score to give the Spirits a 3 to 0 lead. McPherson followed with a single, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch, and later scored on an RBI single by Goetz. Nash and Molldrem both flew out but the Spirits had a 4 to 0 lead heading into the fifth.
After striking out the first Brewers hitter, Raspberry found paydirt on a 1-2 fastball that found a way into the right centerfield gap for a single to bust up the no-no bid. Molldrem followed up by striking out both Rudy Theobald and Cano to regain dominance of the contest.
The Spirits added another pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning after German reached on a one-out single and moved to second after Lewis wore a pitch to the back side. Tipton flew out but Scott singled home German and Lewis eventually scored following an RBI single by McPherson.
“Another great outing by Craig,” Lee commented following the game. “Several guys stepped up tonight on offense to help us get a win tonight as well. Nash got the job done behind the plate after not catching for awhile, and I thought that as pretty important in helping us win. It was a bit of a pitcher’s duel for a few innings, but our offense found some ways to score so we’ll take it. Nothing worse that seeing a great pitching outing followed by no offense, but the guys were behind Craig tonight and got it done.”
The Spirits return to action next Wednesday night when they visit a solid Fighting Chihuahuas team. First pitch is scheduled for 8:45PM at Texas Star on Arlington Field. Click here for more details.
Dallas Spirits Baseball Club Players of the Game
Craig Molldrem (1-4; 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 15 K)
Eric McPherson (2-4, R, RBI, SB)
Will Nash (2-3, R, BB, SB)