06/09/2007

14-run inning spurs TC to victory

Bums overcome 5-0 deficit to beat Kings 20-6

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — Now, that's something you don't see every day.

The Traverse City Beach Bums, who trailed 5-0 in the third, batted around twice in the seventh inning while scoring a team-record 14 runs and clobbered the Kalamazoo Kings 20-6 in front of 2,209 stunned fans at Homer Stryker Field on Friday night.

The Bums (6-10) were led by catcher Curtis Ledbetter, who had an RBI single and a three-run homer in the seventh. Outfielder J.T. Thomas added a two-run double in the frame.

After Kalamazoo's Cooper Eddy pitched five innings and left with a 5-3 lead, reliever Dan Caldwell came on and allowed Thomas' two-run single in the sixth as Traverse City pulled to within 6-5.

Then the roof caved in on the Kings.

Pitchers Mitch Waters, Justin Cicatello and newcomer Matt Lovelady all struggled in the seventh. The trio combined to walk five batters and hit another, and all six of them scored.

Ledbetter, Justin Holmes, Brad Vericker, Lance Koenig and Thomas all scored twice in the inning.

By the time the dust cleared, the Bums were up 19-6.

Things got so bad for the Kings that manager Fran Riordan brought in right fielder Jeff Grose to pitch the final two innings. Grose allowed the 20th run of the game on a bases-loaded walk to Koenig (who had three RBIs) in the eighth.

Thomas went 3-for-4 in the game with two doubles and five RBIs. Holmes slugged his second home run of the season, Zack Kalter went 3-for-7 and Jeff Vincent had two hits.

Phil Tognetti (1-0) went three innings to earn the win in relief of Tony Casoli, who was roughed up for five runs in three innings.