(May 19, 2021 – Euless, TX) The Spirits (40+) offense kept the foot on the gas for lack of a better cliche as they cruised to a 13 to 3 win over the Rangers in a shortened game Wednesday night on Arlington Field at Texas Star due to the DFW-ABA League’s mercy rule.
Earl German led the box score with a 2-for-2 performance that included a pair of runs scored and 3 runs batted in. German also swiped a base before the game was over. Kirk Sipila finished 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, run scored, and a pair of runs batted in and Jonathan Duran also finished 1-for-1 with a pair of runs scored, a walk, and a run batted in. Pitcher, Duane Aponte when the distance to pick up the victory for the Spirits, allowing 3 earned on 4 hits while walking 2. Aponte also went 1-for-2 and scored twice while also swiping a base.
The ghosts picked up 2 runs in the bottom of the first after Eric McPherson led things off with a walk. McPherson stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Sipila also drew a free tip to first. McPherson later caught the Rangers defense off guard and pulled a delayed steal to take home and two wild pitches later, Sipila was standing on third. Shawn Lee flew out, but not deep enough to score a run and after Will Nash popped out, it appeared Sipila may be stranded. Eric Goetz also drew a base-on-balls and later took second base and one wild pitch later, Sipila was home and the Spirits were up, 2 to 0 before Shawn Hunt and David Tipton drew walks to load the bases. Brant Finchum followed with a hard-hit liner that could have been big, but the Rangers defense was able to snare the ball to kill the inning.
The Spirits added another 5 runs in the second after holding the Rangers scoreless when Aponte reached on a one-out single. German singled deep to the right-center gap to score Aponte and was able to take second on the throw to the plate. He then scored on an RBI single by Duran and a follow up single by McPherson and a walk to Sipla loaded the bases for Lee. Lee was able to reach on a fielder’s choice that scored Duran but squeezed Sipila at second. McPherson later scored on a wild pitch and after Lee advanced to second, he stole third to put a run 90 feet away. Nash eventually drew a walk and another wild pitch plated Lee before Goetz flew out to end the inning.
The Rangers broke the ice eventually and scored 3 runs in the third to cut the score to, 7 to 3. However, the Spirits were able to rally for another 6 runs in the third to put the game away. Both Hunt and Tipton singled and after the two runner advanced, Hunt was able to score on a ground out by Finchum. Stacy Scott drew a walk and after he stole second, German followed with an RBI single to score both Tipton and Aponte. Scott was called for runner interference on a call that was insanely inaccurate, but the Spirits kept the inning going after Duran and McPherson drew walks. Sipila scored both German and Duran with a single and after Lee walked, Nash picked up an easy RBI with a walk that scored McPherson before Goetz lined out to end the inning.
Lance Metcalf and Stephen Billey each singled for the Rangers and each hitter also scored a run with Metcalf adding an RBI to lead the Rangers box. The Spirits will return to action next Wednesday when they host the league-leading Spurs at 8:45PM on Arlington Field at Texas Star. Click here for schedule details.
Earl German (2-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB)
Jonathan Duran (1-1, 2 R, RBI, BB)
Kirk Sipila (1-1, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB)