07/02/2007

Bums snap five-game skid, 12-4

Ledbetter, Garza, Orr go deep in win over Kings

FROM STAFF REPORTS

KALAMAZOO — The Traverse City Beach Bums belted three home runs Sunday afternoon in snapping a five-game losing streak with a 12-4 win over the Kalamazoo Kings.

David Nathanson earned the win in his professional debut for the Beach Bums. Signed on Thursday, Nathanson went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Jack Nelson, Brett Bostelman and Nick Pepper all hurled an inning of shutout ball in relief.

Offensively, Curtis Ledbetter, Aaron Garza and Sam Orr supplied the power. Ledbetter smacked a two-run homer in the first; Garza, who was signed Saturday, belted a grand slam in the sixth; and Orr went deep with two on in the seventh.

The Beach Bums, now 14-24, pounded out 10 hits. Ledbetter, Orr and catcher Matt Rademacher paced the attack with two hits apiece.

Ledbetter's two-run shot in the first staked Traverse City to an early lead. It was his fourth round-tripper of the season and it came off Kalamazoo ace Jeff Long.

Kalamazoo scored single runs in the second and third to tie it. The second-inning run came on a Simon Williams home run.

The Beach Bums took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth. Rademacher's two-run single highlighted the outburst.

Williams doubled in a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the gap to 5-3, but Garza hit a grand slam over the left field wall in the sixth to put it away. The blast scored Orr, who was hit by a pitch, Jeff Brown, who had singled, and Rademacher, who had also singled.

Orr's three-run homer in the seventh came off relief pitcher John Brownell. It was the only hit in the inning. It came after Brad Vericker walked and Ledbetter was hit by a pitch.

Long (5-2) worked the first 5.1 innings to take the loss. He surrendered nine runs on nine hits.

In addition to his two hits and three RBIs, Orr scored three runs.

Steve Young, activated from the injured reserve list Saturday, made his debut at second. He was hit by a pitch in his lone plate appearance.

The two teams play again tonight at Wuerfel Park. Right-hander Phil Tognetti (1-1) will pitch for the Beach Bums. He'll be opposed by left-hander Scott Fogelson (3-3).

Sunday's win gave the Beach Bums a split in the two-game series at Kalamazoo. The Kings won Saturday night 6-3.

The Beach Bums were leading 2-0 in the eighth when Kalamazoo exploded for six runs on five extra base hits. Williams had the big blow in the inning, hitting a three-run homer off reliever Derek Bell.

Ryan Gehring, who had the shutout entering the eighth, suffered the loss.