CULVER CITY, CA - After dropping two games in a row for the first time this season the Knights needed to get back on track. But early on this looked like it would be a difficult task versus the hot hitting Brewers. But Rod Boaz was up to the challenge. The Knights originally had Tony "El Toro" Sulser penciled in as the starter but he was a late scratch and could not be found for comment after the game. Rumors swirled throughout the clubhouse of a Trade. Our crack reporting staff is working on this and other possible moves before the trading deadline.
Sunday the lean Knights were without Ryan Brooks, Mike Vogel, Josh Steiner, Pete Nelson and the aforementioned Tony Sulser. So Boaz got the spot-start after struggling in his last outing versus the Cubs, Boaz knew he had to be on his game versus the heavy hitting Brewers.
The Game began as an old fashioned pitchers dual. The Brewers pitcher Justin Halpern matched Boaz inning for inning both allowing 1 hit over the first 3 and striking out 5. But the Brewers took advantage of a rare Boaz walk and their first hit of the game by center fielder
Joe Howard taking a 1-0 lead. With the way Halpern was pitching it looked as though that was all the Brewers would need to win this game. Then in a surprise move the Brewers removed Halpern for a reliever who immediately gave up a solo shot to Steve Fike who connected on his first of the year a laser over the 365 mark in right field. Just lik that the Knights were back in the game and giving Boaz some much needed run support.
As Boaz creeped up on the 100 pitch count in the top of the 5th, he hit a rough patch. Making what looked like pretty good pitched according to K-Zone, the walks equaled another run for the patient Brewer hitters, but not before Boaz could record his 10th strikeout of the game (the 8th time he has done this in a Knights uniform). Boaz left the game on the hook for a hard luck loss.
But Kevin Murkey had other ideas how this game would end. After an Erik Barber walk and steal of second. Murkules unloaded with every bit of his Spartan Like strength hitting a no doubt home run well over 400 feet landing 30 rows up in left field. Murkey did his patented Sosa like hop out of the box even adding in a new dance step that may get him a call from the "Dancing With The Stars" producers for next season. Murkey's blast gave the Knights a 3-2 lead going into the top of the 9th inning. Knights skipper Ryan Saul let Steve Fike who tossed 2 solid innings attempt to finish the game out, but had Mr. Game Over Kevin Murkey in the wings waiting in case Fike got into trouble.
The Brewers wasted no time connecting on 2 straight singles putting players on first and third with no one out. Saul went to the bullpen and brought the home run hitting closer in. Murkey got the groundball he wanted, with the middle infield playing DP depth, Barber was able to get the ball but had a problem on the transfer which allowed the tying run to score and putting the leading run at second base. The Brewers then channeled their inner Tony Gwynn, poking two hits to the opposite field between first and second. The third hit was ruled an error by the official scorer but looked to me to have taken a bad hop and hit Boaz directly in the throat, saving a run but allowing the runners to move up. So with the bases loaded the Brewers kept the pressure on hitting a deep sac fly to Ryan Saul in Rightfield who decoyed everyone by pretending he didn't know where is was then at the last second leaping far to his left to catch the ball. All in all the Brewers scored 4 runs but left the bases loaded, so the damage could have been worse.
The Knights had one last at bat to snatch this game from the dark depth of defeat. Colyn Van Buren had his coming out party hitting his second basehit of the day and in a rare display of blazing speed Van Buren stretched a sure single into a double. He was removed for a pinch runner as he needed oxygen and a bottle of water, stat. Halvorsen who had struck out 2 times on the day (his first two of the season) hit a hanging slider into center field for a base hit plating Saul and bringing the Knight to within 2 runs. Fike, anxious to continue this hit parade and get him off the hook for the loss hit the first pitch he saw into left field putting the tying run at first base. After another Boaz strikeout (this time his own), Erik Barber stepped up and hit a routine ground ball to the right of the shortstop. What looked to have been the second out turned into a bases loaded situation because Barber flew down the line beating the throw by a step. Bringing up the Murkules for another shot at infamy. Murkey wasted no time smashing a single into left center scoring both Halvorsen and Fike, tying the game and giving the Knights the winning run at 3rd with 1 out. The Brewers opted to walk the bases loaded and bring in their rightfielder to give them 6 infielders.
Up stepped A-Train Austin Hurwitz... he took a moment and looked up into the sky, he his destiny, but with great power comes great responsibility. After looking horrible on 2 straight swings he worked the count back to 2-2 then hit what can only be called a dead duck into shallow leftfield. Barber did not hesitate to tag and use his speed to easily beat the throw home giving the Knights the win!
The Knights will take a week off and be back out at Culver City Stadium against the South Bay Storm. More on the developing Sulser story this week...
I'm Max Mercy and I'll see YOU at the ballpark.
