08/21/2007

Bums' win streak hits three

Meigs earns his third save in a row in 3-2 win

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Beach Bums returned home from their longest road trip of the season and defeated the Florence Freedom 3-2 in Frontier League action Monday night at Wuerfel Park.

The Bums, who split eight games away from Traverse City on a journey that began Aug. 11, were victorious behind the pitching of David Nathanson and Tyler Meigs and the hitting of Brad Vericker, Aaron Garza and Brad Roblin.

Nathanson hurled seven strong innings while improving his record to 4-2. Meigs came out of the bullpen in the eighth and worked out of a jam that he inherited, then managed to slip out of another pickle of his own doing in the ninth.

Meigs earned his ninth save in 10 opportunities, including three games in a row — all while working more than one inning.

Traverse City (38-45) improved to 20-17 since the All-Star break.

The Bums never trailed in the contest, scoring first in the bottom half of the opening inning. Roblin singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Steve Young and scored on Vericker's double.

TC increased its advantage to 2-0 in the fourth when Justin Holmes' RBI single plated Garza.

After Florence (36-47) got on the board with a single run in the seventh, the Bums answered back with a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning. Roblin reached on a bunt, Young singled and Vericker walked to load the bases for Garza, whose infield single brought Roblin home.

The Freedom cut the margin to 3-2 with a run in the top of the eighth, but Meigs limited the damage by getting the third out.

Garza and Roblin both reached base three times on two hits and a walk.

Scott Fogelson (5-7) was the losing pitcher. The Bums have beaten him four times this season, including three times while he pitched for Kalamazoo.