Galaxy Gas 2059.31 – Valencia Outlasts Black Sox 10-5

[DugoutDesperado]

In the series opener after getting thrashed in Nashville, the Stars headed up to Chicago to play the Black Sox. Valencia was trying to snap a four game skid with a record of 38-36 while Chicago was sitting at 34-39. Although Chicago jumped out to an early lead, the Stars came out on top by a score of 10-5.

Valencia opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a RBI single by Tim Bartlett with 2 outs. In the home half of the first, the Black Sox plated two runs when Gilberto Falchonelli hit a triple with two runners on board. The Sox scored another pair in the 2nd inning when Adhyapayana Mehta belted a 388 foot homer over the left field wall making the score 4-1 in favor of the Sox.

The Valencia bats responded in the 3rd inning with Miller Shed hitting an RBI triple and Qadir bin Gamal hitting a sacrifice fly to left field. Valencia tied the score at 4-4 in the 4th inning when Kenny Blackwell hit an RBI single that found its way between the first and second basemen.

Chicago reclaimed the lead in the 5th inning when Adhyapayana Mehta scored on a groundout after hitting a triple down the rightfield line to go up 5-4. Valencia tied the game again in the 6th when Tyler Conklin hit a solo shot down the rightfield line.

In the 7th inning, Valencia got their bats going again to score 3 runs after having 2 outs. Sterling Kennedy brought in 2 runs with a RBI double a Habib bin Ameen brought in another with a single putting the Stars up 8-5 going into the 7th inning stretch.

The visitors added a couple of insurance runs in the 9th to make the final score 10-5. Sterling Kennedy hit his second double of the night bringing in a run and Tyler Conklin hit a RBI single.

Sterling Kennedy and Tyler Conklin were the offensive stars of the game getting two hits each and driving in 5 runs between them.

Greg Jackson (3-2) gained the win pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Lindsay Barber earned his first save of the season by pitching a scoreless 8th and 9th. Tim Adams (5-1) absorbed his first loss of the season.