Mariners slip by Locos

LIMA - The Locos' pitching has been nearly untouchable in the past few games.

Coming into Sunday's game against the visiting Grand Lake Mariners, the Lima Locos pitching staff had recorded 20 consecutive shutout innings in league play.

Against the Mariners, Locos starting pitcher Brian Garman (University of Cincinnati) kept the Mariners' bats quiet for the first four innings. Garman entered the game with a microscopic 0.56 ERA.

However, in the fifth, Garman made one bad pitch.

After giving up two walks, Garman made a mistake by hanging a fastball to Mariners' shortstop Tom Fogerty.

Fogerty made Garman pay by lining a shot over the left field fence for a three-run home run, giving the Mariners a 4-2 lead that eventually became the final score as the Mariners held on for the win at Simmons Field.

Lima slips to 9-8 while Grand Lake improves to 6-10.

Fogerty said he was looking to jump on one of Garman's fastballs.

"Coach told us to be aggressive up there and try to get on his fastball," Fogerty said. "So, I went up there looking to hit it."

Garman, a Wapakoneta product, was cruising along for the first four innings. Garman did not allow a hit until the fourth, when Mike Stalowy reached first with an infield single. Garman got out of the inning unscathed, however, as he retired the next batter to end the threat.

Locos coach Rob Livchak said Garman seemed to change his approach on the mound in the fifth.

"I thought he started to guide and aim the ball (in the fifth) ... instead of trying to just throw strikes," Livchak said. "He started to fall behind and then he made that one bad pitch. (Fogerty's home run) was definitely the turning point of the game."

Garman worked five innings, allowing four runs on three hits. He threw 85 pitches and struck out five while walking three.

Livhcak called to his bullpen on three occasions.

Matt Morgan (Purdue University) came in to relieve Garman in the sixth. Jamarcus Jamieson (North Florida Community College) worked the seventh, while Fort Loramie product Jordan Goldschmidt (Eastern Michigan) finished out the eighth and ninth for Lima.

Livchak said at this point in the season the pitching rotation is pretty much set.

"We tell the bullpen to be ready to come out when we need them and get the job done," Livchak said.

Lima took the early lead, scoring the first run of the game off a base-hit by Jace Whitmer (Kennesaw University). Whitmer (3-for-3) smacked a hard ground ball past third base, scoring Bryan Bonner (Georgetown College) from second. Bonner (2-for-5) reached base with a single to center.

The Locos added another run in the fourth. Shannon McCormick (Ball State) hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that brought Whitmer in to score, making it 2-0 Locos.

Grand Lake answered in the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits.

Livchak said this loss is not going to be a big setback for his team.

"Today, Grand Lake beat us," Livchak said. "In some of the other losses, we beat ourselves. We'll be O.K. We just need to make sure we finish in the top six (in the league) in order to make the playoffs."