06/11/2007

TC opens Rockford series with win

Orr drive in 3 runs on 3 hits

LOVES PARK, Ill. — Traverse City and Rockford exchanged repeated rallies on Saturday. The Beach Bums finally found a lead to hold onto in the late innings and beat RiverHawks, 13-9.

Traverse City scored three times in the top of the first inning, but the RiverHawks rallied for six runs in the bottom of the inning and knocked starter Ryan Gehring out after just nine hitters. Sean McFadden's two-run triple to right center keyed the comeback.

The Bums scored three times in the fourth inning to pull within 7-6. In the seventh inning, they rallied for four runs to take the lead for good. Curtis Ledbetter doubled in the tying run. Jeff Vincent followed with a RBI single off Jason James to put the Bums in front, 8-7. Traverse City added four runs in the ninth inning.

James (0-1), who began the night as the designated hitter, was the third of seven Rockford pitchers and took the loss. At the plate, James was 2-for-2 with a RBI and extended his hitting streak to nine games.

Alhaji Turay was 4-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Traverse City's Justin Holmes was 2-for-6 with a two-run double and has an 11-game streak.

Jeff Williams (1-1), the third of four Traverse City pitchers, got the win.

Rockford chased Beach Bums starter Ryan Gehring from the game after only two-third of an inning. The Riverhawks batted around, opening a 6-3 lead.

For the second straight night it was seventh inning that proved to be the difference. The Beach Bums put four runs on the board after scoring 14 last night to open a 10-7 lead. The inning started when Brad Vericker drew a leadoff walk. Ledbetter followed with a double to left-center to score Vericker and tie the game. A Vincent single allowed Traverse City to take their first lead since the first. Traverse City would add two more runs as Sam Orr doubled home one and J.T. Thomas singled to drive in a run.

Traverse City added three more runs in the ninth as Vincent doubled, Lance Koenig singled, Orr singled in a run, and scored on a wild pitch.

Jeff Williams earned his first professional win with two innings of relief and Nick Pepper added 2.2 to record his second save.

Orr was the Player of the Game, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Every member of the Beach Bums order reached base in a four-hour game.