07/05/2007

Mistake costly for the Bums

Three-run blast in seventh beats Traverse City

FROM STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON, PA — Tony Casoli made one mistake Wednesday night.

And it cost him.

Pat O'Brien belted a two-out, three-run homer over the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Washington Wild Things a 3-1 Frontier League win over the Traverse City Beach Bums at Consol Energy Park.

It was O'Brien's second home run of the season.

And it spoiled a splendid outing by Casoli (3-5), who allowed just four hits in eight innings of work.

Aaron Ledbetter, Washington's All-Star pitcher, secured his sixth win of the season. He has not lost. Ledbetter, the winningest pitcher in Frontier League history, went 7.2 innings, allowing six hits and striking out seven. Ian Heisel picked up his fifth save in relief, striking out four.

The Beach Bums (15-26) scored their only run in the game in the top of the fourth when Curtis Ledbetter doubled into right center and Jeff Vincent followed with a triple.

It looked like that lead might hold the way Casoli, the league's Pitcher of the Year in 2006, was throwing. But in the seventh he gave up a pair of one-out walks, setting the stage for O'Brien.

The Beach Bums loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to chase Ledbetter, but Heisel closed the door by striking out Curtis Ledbetter, who was the only Beach Bum to collect two hits in the game.

It was the second consecutive night the Beach Bums received solid pitching but could not produce many runs. They lost to Kalamazoo 3-2 on Tuesday.

The series with Washington (24-16) continues tonight with the Beach Bums sending lefty Ryan Gehring (2-4, 5.07) to the hill. He'll be opposed by lefty Alan Stridfole, who will make his season debut for Washington.