Tinker Rangers rally, defeat Cardinals 5-4 John E. Banks - Staff Writer
Tinker Rangers pitcher Richard Skidmore delivers a curveball in the fourth inning of a game as third baseman Blake Pomeroy looks on versus the Cardinals on June 3 at Hillsdale Baptist College. (Photo by John E. Banks)
The Tinker Rangers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals 5-4 in a National Adult Baseball Association divisional match-up at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore on June 3.
The Rangers got off to an early start in their half of the first inning by loading the bases with their first three batters. Sean Thompson singled a pitch in past the Cardinals shortstop giving the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Rangers until the 3rd inning. The Cardinals pushed across one run and in their half of the fourth inning they added two more runs in the fifth inning giving them a 3-1 advantage.
“We were really sluggish today,” said head coach Stephen Escalante. “This was our first game in about two and half weeks and it definitely showed.”
A single by Escalante drove in Blake Pomeroy leaving the score 3-2 in favor of the Cardinals after five complete innings.
“We changed up our approach today, normally we let Richard Skidmore start the game and dominate the opponent. We have blown some leads so we decided to let Skidmore come in after three innings and let him go to work. This approach was the key to victory today,” said Escalante.
The rally was complete when Rangers first baseman Christopher Brooks drove in Justin Tesner with a double tying the score at 3. The Rangers took the lead for good on a sacrifice fly by Sean Thompson sending Brooks across the plate giving the Rangers a 4-3.
Both teams traded runs in the next inning making the final tally 5-4. Skidmore was spectacular on the mound getting seven strikeouts. The highlight was striking out four out of the last six batters he faced.
