Mets’ bats bring a Major victory
A pitcher’s duel ended with three hits.
The Mets’ bats came alive against the Brewers in the Lodi Boosters of Boys and Girls Club Sports’ Majors championship game on the Mike Moore Field at Salas Park on Monday. The two BOBS’ teams combined for six hits in the same inning. But the Mets posted a 4-2 win over the Brewers in the six inning contest.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. That’s when the Mets’ Gionni Casazza, along with Dylan Bartlett and Cooper Rostomily, strung together three consecutive singles.
After the Brewers picked up their first out on a fly ball, the Mets made it 1-0 on a bases-loaded walk to Noah Silvia that sent Casazza home. Then Niko Lombardi drove Bartlett, Rostomily and Silvia home on a double to right-center field that cushioned the Mets’ lead to 4-0. The Brewers added an error that helped in the Mets’ scoring.
“A great game,” said Mets manager Peter Casazza.
The Brewers cut into the Mets’ lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth frame. Bubba Stout doubled to right field, and scored on Dante Cecchini’s single.
In that inning, the Mets’ defense stopped any type of offensive momentum that the Brewers were trying to create. Two bunt attempts led to two outs for the Mets.
After the Mets went down in order in the bottom of the fifth, the Brewers added another run to make it 4-2. Pinch-hitter Matt Gobel doubled to left field. Before teammate Matt Alagna walked, Gobel stole third base. After the Mets got a strikeout for their first out of the inning, Gobel touched home plate when Josh Myers hit into a fielder’s choice that put Alagna out.
The Brewers had one more shot to tie the game or more in the top of the sixth inning when Nik Thompson drew a walk for the Brewers, but the Mets were able to use two fly outs and a strikeout looking to win the championship.
On the mound, the Mets’ Nate Bettencourt threw four innings, plus two
batters in the fifth inning. He struck out seven Brewers and allowed only three hits. Gionni Casazza tossed the final two innings, allowed no hits and struck out two.
“He just dominated,” said Peter Casazza of Bettencourt. “I think Nate could’ve kept going for a little bit (more). But he started to slow down on his velocity. That’s when I brought Gionni in.”
The Brewers’ Cecchini also kept the Mets’ bats silenced for the of the game. In four innings’ work, he fanned four batters and allowed four hits. Myers tossed the final inning.
The two starting pitchers, the Mets’ Bettencourt and the Brewers’ Cecchini combined to strike out 10 batters and allowed no hits through the first three innings of the game.
“It was a battle,” Peter Casazza said.