James Robinson Drives in 10 in Opening Round Series Loss
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The Redlegs season came to an end on Sunday after an exciting 3 game series with the Springfield Angels in the opening round of the 2023 MVABL playoffs. The Redlegs outscored the Angels 28-17 in the series, but the Angels used late inning heroics in games 1 and 3 to take the series.
The Angels jumped out early in game 1, scoring twice in the bottom of the 1st. Redlegs longtime ace Aaron Carmack recovered quickly though and allowed only 3 baserunners over the next 3 frames. Chris Flaherty provided some defensive help in the 2nd inning. With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, he pounced on a sharply hit ball to 3rd, beat the runner to the bag, and fired across to 1st just in time to complete the inning ending double play.
The Redlegs halved the lead in the top of the 5th when Cody Saraco-Polner singled and moved up to 2nd on a passed ball with one out. Jacob Robinson would later deliver a 2-out single to score Saraco-Polner and cut the lead to 2-1.
The Angels answered in the bottom half however, and pushed a couple of unearned runs across the plate to extend their lead to 4-1. But Camden would rally in the top of the 6th. Mike Hartman, Evan Koogler, and Chris Flaherty all singled in succession with one out before James Robinson laced a bases clearing double down the right field line, knotting things up at 4-4.
The Angels went quietly in the bottom of the 6th, and so to did the Redlegs in the top of the 7th. The Angels wasted no time in the bottom of the 7th, using a single and a double to push the winning run across the plate in the walk-off victory. Carmack pitched well for Camden and would be saddled with the tough luck loss. He allowed just 3 earned runs through 7 innings while striking out 4.
Game 2 was the odd ball of the series as it was all Camden from start to finish. After the Angels went up 2-0 in the top of the 1st, the Redlegs would pound out 15 unanswered runs in a game that was eventually shortened to 5 innings due to darkness.
Camden scored twice (both unearned) in the bottom of the 1st and then piled 6 runs on in the 3rd. Jacob Robinson doubled to start the big inning, followed by a Matt Mattice walk, a Ben Schooler hit by pitch, and an RBI walk by Mike Hartman. Evan Koogler then delivered an RBI single, followed by a 2-run double by Chris Flaherty. James Robinson then picked up his 4th RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly, followed by a sacrifice fly by Cody Saraco-Polner.
Camden followed the big 6-run 3rd with a 7-run 5th. Evan Koogler started things off with his first triple of the inning (you read that right), followed by a walk to James Robinson. Matt Redman came on as a pinch runner for Robinson and promptly swiped 2nd base forcing an overthrow which scored Koogler and moved Redman to 3rd. Cody Saraco-Polner singled in Redman, and Eric Jameson walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Jacob Robinson then punched a 2-run triple into the right-center gap. After Robinson scored on a passed ball, Ben Schooler started things back up with a double, followed by a walk to Mike Hartman when Evan Koogler launched his 2nd triple of the frame to plate both runners. With the game standing at 15-2 and darkness looming, the game was called final after 5 innings of play.
Evan Koogler was fantastic over 5 innings, scattering just 4 hits while striking out 4 Angels batter and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) in the outing.
Click here for Game 3 recap.