LIMA The Lima Locos defeated the Royal Oak Leprechauns 16 to 10 in the run-fest opening game of a three game weekend matchup.
The Locos, who were home Friday night at Simmons Field, travel Saturday to play Michigan and then return home for 5:05 p.m. game Sunday.
The game started well for the Locos. In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Anthony Zarlingo hit a triple and later scored on a passed ball to give the Locos an early lead which they would never relinquish.
Starting pitcher Ryan Denison sailed through the early innings with good defensive play behind him.
“I actually thought our pitchers made pitches to get out of innings and our defense didn’t help them out,” coach Chad Ehrnsberger said.
After scoring a run in the first the Locos scored five times in the second. once in the fourth, twice in the fifth and sixth, and ended the scoring with five runs in seventh.
The Leprechaun countered with five runs in the fourth inning, four runs in the seventh and one tally in the ninth.
The final had the Locos with 16 runs on 12 hits with three errors and five runners left on base. The Leprechauns countered with 10 runs on nine hits with one error and seven left on base. Seven of the Leprechauns runs were unearned.
“Giving up 10 runs, obviously we need to work on that,” Ehrnsberger said. “We gave up some walks and made some errors on defense and then it just kind of snowballed from there.”
With the win the Locos moved to within three gamesof the division-leading Muskegon Clippers. Hudson Parker was the winning pitcher. Eduarny Martinez led the Locos with three runs batted in followed by Connor Ashby, Landon Underhill, Aidyn Coffey, and Kolton Schaller with two each.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
