08/13/2007

Kalamazoo tops Bums

Ramos homers in the first as Kings post 4-2 victory

FROM STAFF REPORTS

KALAMAZOO — The first game of Traverse City's longest road trip of the season began with a 4-2 loss to Kalamazoo on Saturday night.

The Kings wasted little time getting on the board against Beach Bums' starting pitcher Tom Thornton (1-2).

After a one-out single by Simon Williams, Joe Ramos ripped a home run to right field, his third of the season, in the bottom of the first.

Despite the tough start, Traverse City rallied to tie the game at 2-2 after five innings.

The Beach Bums got their first run in the top of the fourth inning against Kalamazoo starter Sam Mann (6-0). Sam Orr started the rally with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Garza and came across on a two-out single to center field by Kyle Bradburry.

In the fifth inning, Steve Young reached on a one-out single, stole second and scored on another two-out hit, this time a RBI double down the right field line by Curtis Ledbetter.

But that would be all the scoring Traverse City could muster as Jon Troop and Mark Kelly each tossed one hitless inning of relief with Kelly tossing the ninth inning for his sixth save of the season.

Kalamazoo scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead on a RBI single by Williams and an error by Bradburry, his third of the game and the fourth committed by the Beach Bums in the contest.

Both teams finished with six hits. Ledbettter was the lone player for the Bums to get two hits while Williams and Ramos each had two for Kalamazoo.