Senator Cole McDannald delivers a pitch as the rain falls at Ron McNutt Field Saturday during a game against the Manogue Miners. Carson came from behind to win 6-5.
For the second time this week, the Carson Senators used some late-inning magic to register a come-from-behind win.
Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Senators scored three times on just one hit to knock off Bishop Manogue, 6-5, Saturday at Ron McNutt Field.
The Senators, who visit Manogue on Tuesday, improved to 7-2. Manogue falls to 5-4.
Just like they did against Reno on Tuesday, the Senators kept chipping away against the Miners, and their tenacity paid off.
“That has been a quality of this team the past couple of years,” Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said. “They don’t quit; they don’t give up.
“We’ve been fortunate to get some help; score some runs without getting a hit. When you’re struggling offensively that’s what you have to do.”
Manogue’s Callaway Miller carried a 4-3 lead into the sixth, but he departed after issuing a one-out walk to Terek Been.
Evan Hulbert came in and lasted just two batters. Been moved to second on a wild pitch and was replaced by Brandon Gagnon, who reached third on Jared Barnard’s sacrifice bunt. Lopez drew a walk, and Manogue went to Jack Cook, who promptly gave up a game-tying single to Connor Pradere.
Lopez advanced to second on the play. On a 2-0 pitch, Cook uncorked a wild pitch, which advanced runners to second and third, respectively. A wild pitch scored Lopez to give CHS a 5-4 lead, and Billy Swope was called for a balk, which scored Pradere. Kyle Krebs grounded out to end the inning.
A frustrating inning for the Miners and coach Charles Oppio.
“The bullpen has been off and on, but we definitely didn’t compete today,” Oppio said. “Callaway did his job. He was around 100 pitches.”
Cole McDannald had pitched a 1-2-3 sixth in relief of Barnard, but Manoukian called on Kyle Krebs to close it out. The senior right-hander did, but not without some tense moments.
Three straight singles, the third by Oliver Shawa, produced a run to make it 6-5. Krebs caught Luke Smith looking at a third strike and then got Jordan Dicus to ground into a force out to end the game.
“We hemmed and hawed about that,” Manoukian said. “Cole threw well and got his first win. We’re trying to establish roles (closer and set-up) instead of going with the hot hand. Kyle did a good job of closing the door,”
Manogue found the hole between short and third for its run. None of the balls were hit hard, but they were hit to the right spot.
Barnard gave up two runs in the first, but Carson tied it on sacrifice flies by Jace Keema and Cody Azevedo.
The Miners scored two on four hits in the top of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. The Miners should have had a third run in the inning, but Anthony Galati was called for an illegal slide at second, which resulted in a an inning-ending double play.
The Senators made it 4-3 on a sacrifice fly by Barnard, which set the table for Carson’s comeback.
