Tuatara suffer ugly loss

The Auckland Tuatara paid a heavy price for being unable to drive in runs and having a shaky bullpen yesterday.

The Tuatara lost 9-1 in the opening clash of a four-game series against Sydney Blue Sox at McLeod Park in West Auckland.

It was arguably the most frustrating loss of the eight defeats the Tuatara have had this season as they had the bases loaded three times.

But each time they couldn’t get any runs in from being in the dream situation, while when Sydney had the same scenario, Zac Shepherd hit a grand slam.

The game ended up as a blowout with Jimmy Boyce getting the loss, but it was unfortunate for him, not only did he not get any run support, but pitched well over six innings, giving up five hits and two runs.

Boyce has no wins and three losses this season, which doesn’t reflect how well the 21-year-old New Zealander has pitched.

But his team hasn’t batted well when he’s pitched. In his three losses, the Tuatara have scored a total of six runs.

‘‘It happens, there are days that we throw badly and let them down, so it goes both ways,’’ Boyce said. ‘‘I didn’t feel great with my fastball today, so I was trying to locate it and make good pitches.’’

Boyce did struggle in his first game of the season, but has pitched well since then has settled in well at the Tuatara.

‘‘I feel pretty good and good about going into the next couple of games,’’ he said.

‘‘The body is getting in shape now to go that distance and it’s all about keep getting those outs.’’

But after Boyce left the game and the Tuatara delved into their bullpen, they fell apart, with Ryota Okumoto giving up three runs from 0.1 innings and Yuki Harada coughing up four runs from the rest of a horrendous seventh inning.