07/13/2007

Four in a row for Bums

Gehring, three relievers combine on shutout

TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Beach Bums stretched their winning streak to a season-best four games Friday night, blanking the Slippery Rock Sliders 7-0 in a Frontier League game at Wuerfel Park.

Ryan Gehring teamed with three relievers to pitch the shutout. The four allowed just six hits. Gehring went 5.2 innings to register his third win. Jeff Williams, Bryan Rembisz and Brett Bostelman protected the lead and shutout.

The Beach Bums scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth — the only run they needed. Jeff Vincent drew a two-out walk and scored from first on a throwing error.

Traverse City broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth by scoring five runs to bounce Slippery Rock's Nick Tracy from the contest. With one out, Steve Young connected on the first of two doubles in the game. Zack Kalter dropped in a bloop single to put runners at the corners. With two down, Brad Vericker singled in a run with an infield hit. After Curtis Ledbetter drew a walk to load the bases, Jeff Vincent doubled into left center to score two. Ben Ramsey then followed with a two-run single to give the Beach Bums a 6-0 lead.

Traverse City closed out the scoring in the sixth when Young doubled and then scored on a base hit by Jeff Brown.

The Beach Bums finished the game with nine hits — two by Young and Brad Vericker. Young also scored twice, walked and was hit by a pitch.

The Beach Bums will continue their 10-game homestand to start the second half with a special 5:05 p.m. start tonight. David Nathanson (1-0, 3.46) will pitch for the Beach Bums. He;ll be opposed by Slippery Rock's Dan Schwartz (0-0, 2.65).

NOTES: The Beach Bums signed outfielder Brad Roblin, who played at the University of Michigan from 2004-2007. Roblin made over 150 starts in his four-year career with the Wolverines and is fourth on the Michigan all-time list in stolen bases with 53. He hit a career best .320 this season for the Big Ten Champions and also hit a homer while knocking in 24 runs.

In other moves, Beach Bums' pitcher Derek Bell announced his retirement from baseball.