When the Wakefield Lou Tompkins C team hosted Sudbury earlier in the season, the 15-3 drubbing was a no-doubter from start to finish. And while Thursday's rematch at Haskell Field in Sudbury didn't come close to triggering the mercy rule, it still had the same vibe of a "can't-lose" game.
But thanks to twelve walks, five stolen bases, and a six-run sixth inning, Sudbury escaped with a 9-8 victory.
Having already faced deficits of 1-0, 2-0, 4-0, 4-3, and 7-3, the home team's comeback was epitomized in one play. Down 7-5 with the bases loaded, one out, and two runs already scored in the bottom of the sixth, Sudbury's Troy Shallow hit a grounder to third, which Wakefield's Andrew Patti scooped up and immediately fired back home to try and force Drew Baker out at the plate.
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But Patti's throw was off target, and not only did Baker score the run, but the throw struck Baker in the upper back, right between the shoulder blades.
After being down for about a minute, however, Baker popped right back up and came back to the dugout so the rally could continue.
Sudbury would take the lead on the very next at-bat when two runs scored on a fielder's choice and error off the bat of Ryan Boland. One more run after a wild pitch would also be crucial, as Wakefield got one run back in the top of the seventh but could not plate one more to tie the game.
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"We couldn't throw any strikes," said Wakefield head coach Peter Beck. "It was like a merry-go-round out there; we couldn't stop them from running. We could have been out of the inning with one or two runs, but it didn't happen."
Nick Sawyer got the win for Sudbury (9-9), pitching six innings and striking out three batters. Though Sawyer allowed seven runs (five earned), he was able to last as long as four Wakefield (9-10) pitchers thanks to the teams' respective approaches at the plate. Sawyer threw 83 pitches, including just 28 in the first three innings, thanks to a first-pitch-swinging Wakefield offense. Wakefield's Max Yardumian (45 pitches) and Mike Caraglia (26) each lasted just two innings, while Patti and (40) Anthony Ceceri (27) each got through one frame.
"I was concerned about those walks," Beck added. "I was trying to find somebody who could throw the ball over the plate."
Wakefield's next game is Sunday at 5 p.m. at Arlington.
