Boston Cubs Beat Newton Royals 4-1 to Earn First Victory

The Boston Cubs, looking for their first win of the young season, hosted divisional rival Newton Royals at Marcella Field in Boston on Sunday in early season RRBL baseball league action.  Eric Walz started for the Cubs while the undefeated Royals sent Dan Pelberg, who no-hit the Cubs last season, to the hill.

The Cubs started the offense early against Pelberg when leadoff hitter Mike Carpentier singled on the second pitch of the game and, following a productive out by Walz, came home to score the game's first run on shortstop Nick Runyan's RBI single.  The Royals tied it up in the top of the third when Royals centerfielder Nate Coolidge drew a walk, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Pelberg.

With the score knotted at one in the bottom of the 5th, Cubs catcher Drew Walsh drew a one-out walk, which was followed by a single to right by Art Gould.  The pair then pulled off a double steal of second and third, and, with two outs in the inning, Carpentier roped a double to deep left to score both runners.  Those runs would prove the difference in the game, though the Cubs also added an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th to bring the final score to 4-1.  

Walz pitched five strong innings, holding the Royals' normally hot bats to one run on four singles while walking five and striking out five, to earn the win.  Walz handed the ball off to Afshin Chaharmahalian in the 6th who threw two shut out innings, giving up one single while striking out one and walking none, for his first save of the season.  Runyan was 2 for 3 with a run scored, a RBI, and four stolen bases while Carpentier was 2 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI.

The Boston Cubs will look to stay hot this Sunday, 5/12, against another divisional foe, the Thunder, at 3pm at BB&N Academy in Cambridge.