Clams Outduel River Bandits on the Hill, Take Two-Game Series
Tarboro, NC – A day before the 4th of July the Steamers defused any fireworks from the River Bandits offense. The Edenton Steamers defeated the Tarboro River Bandits, 3-1, Monday night at Tarboro Municipal Stadium. The Clams allowed just one unearned run over nine frames while the offense played small ball to take the win.
To start the ball game the Steamers turned to southpaw Zane Loveday making his fourth start of the season. Loveday was strong through his first 3 innings only throwing 38 pitches and allowing just two base runners.
In the fourth inning, Loveday hit a wall. River Bandits second baseman Fernando Espinal reached on an error by Ty Garza to lead off the inning. Loveday surrendered a single to Tarboro’s Eston Snider before spiking a breaking pitch in the dirt to allow Espinal to score.
Steamers Head Coach Justin Hill made a quick change and turned it over to 2023 PCL All-Star Ben Bausas.
Bausas proceeded to get out of the jam in the fourth inning and retire the next eight River Bandits. The Steamers’ right-handed arm threw 3.2 innings, allowed three hits, no runs, and recorded two strikeouts, to earn his third win of the year. Bausas lowered his ERA down to 1.82 which is second on the team only behind Alex Gianascoli.
The sophomore from Chowan University has been one of the best arms on the Clams staff. Dating back to June 18th, Bausas has 13.2 scoreless innings, 13 strikeouts, one walk, and two victories.
In the 8th inning the River Bandits, now down 3-1, notched back-to-back hits against Bausas.
Runners on the corners, one out, a two-run ball game in the bottom of the 8th inning with the heart of the order up, and Hill made his next move to John Horton for the 13th time this season.
With the game on the line, Horton delivered once again for the Clams with a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat and strand two runners. Similarly to Bausas, the 2023 PCL All-Star selection has been lockdown for the Clams out of the pen.
Dating back to June 11th against the River Bandits, Horton has tossed 10.2 innings, two saves, and 17 strikeouts without giving up a run.
Tyrus Baumgardner relieved Horton in the 9th inning to seal the win and pick up the team’s fourth save of the season
Onto the bats, after a nine-run outburst Sunday night the sticks cooled off. The Clams struck out 12 times and left six runners stranded.
However, in the sixth inning with the score 1-0 River Bandits, the teal and blacks bats came to life
After Luke Myers reached on an infield single and Tanner Knowles walked, Geomar Santana laid down a bunt up the third base line. Santana reached at first on a misplay by Tarboro and Myers came around to score.
The very next batter Ryan Kay drove in Knowles on a sacrifice fly and with Khris Morris up Santana scored on a wild pitch, 3-1.
That was all the Steamers staff needed to take their fourth straight game against Tarboro and the sixth win over the River Bandits so far this season.
In the last two victories, the Clams have a staff ERA of 2.50, 25 strikeouts, and stranded 21 River Bandits on the base paths.
The Steamers will use the off day on the 4th of July to trade in the teal and black for the orange and green. The Chowan County Cantaloupes face off vs the Virginia Beach Sea Dogs in the final game before the All-Star game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm.
If you cannot make it to the game you can tune into the Steamers YouTube page, your home for every Steamers and Cantaloupes home game, and a select few road games.