9-News: 37.048 – Two-out Homers Sting Surfers

[RonCo]

Stone, McNeill Provide Punch


While the young’uns were busy drilling doubles, veterans Aaron Stone and Lucas McNeill both had key two-out homers that propelled the Nine to a big victory an Long Beach.

Stone’s blast, a 391-foot majestic arc to left-center, came in the 3rd off starter Luis Oliva, and put the team up 3-0. McNeill’s came after Stone had doubled, and came off lefty Mark Little. If there's news that would make the Heartland shiver, it might be news that these two guys--who have been like hibernating bears who missed their alarm clocks--might be un-freezing.

“There’s still time to turn this season around,” Stone said. “We just have to keep winning series.”

Emil Gutierrez was the winning pitch, throwing three innings after starter Han-lee Kim went four mostly effective innings. Kim walked four, and allowed three hits, but the only damaging one was a solo shot from newly returned Surfer Slugger Carlos Gonzales, who, in a feel-good moment, was named Player of the Game. The Nine eventually won 9-5.