The Rams took a 4-1 lead into the final inning but could not close out the visiting Phantoms as Phoenixville posted a seven spot in the top of the seventh for a 8-4 comeback win in Monday's PAC-10 season opener.
Starting pitcher Sean Larkin was stellar through six innings, allowing one run while scattering eight hits.
Larkin had superior command of his curveball, fanning five while walking only one.
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Phoenixville's hitters were visibly double clutching, anticipating the ball being inside or high just before it dropped off the table.
“I have two curves that I throw,” said Larkin. “One is more similar to a slider and my other curve has more of a hook to it. I felt pretty good all day. To lose a game like that at the end stinks, but it’s only one game and it just reminds us that we can not take anyone lightly.”
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The Rams jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second. Left fielder Pat Medley battled back from a 0-2 count to draw a two-out, bases-loaded walk that forced in third baseman Cody Clarke for the game's first run. Second baseman Tom Grablewski then ripped a two-out, bases-loaded single to drive in two more.
Spring-Ford (0-1 league, 1-2 overall) stranded ten men on base and had runners in scoring position in the first three innings, but could not manage to get the big base hit they needed to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities that Phantoms starter Mike Jones gave them, walking five and hitting three batsmen.
The Rams had Jones on the ropes in the third as they scored a run then put runners at the corners with one out, prompting Phoenixville manager Jack Sturgeon to give the Jones the hook in favor of Collin Ammen.
One pitch into Sean Larkin’s at bat, Ryan Conway was thrown out trying to steal second. Conway did not think the Phantoms would risk a throw to second base with a runner at third. Two pitches later, Ammen struck Larkin out swinging to end the Rams' threat.
“It was just one of those games,” said Larkin. “We were just in Florida and we were hitting the ball great. We just didn’t get it done today when we had chances to put them away early. If we are going to lose a game like this, it’s better that it's now than later in the year.”
For six innings, it appeared as though the Rams were going to be able to steal a win in a game in which they had only one hit.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Rams missed an opportunity to tack on some insurance runs when Ricky Gorrell drilled a ball down the third base line with the bases loaded, but Phoenixville third baseman Jon Wheel snagged the liner and tagged Josh Cratzenberg to end the inning.
Larkin, who left the game after almost 100 pitches, retired Phoenixville in order in the sixth to end his day. He was supportive of Rams manager Bruce Brobst’s decision to have Rickie Michaud attempt to close out the Phantoms in the seventh.
The inning started harmlessly enough with Michaud giving up a single to Andy Kaye, and then striking out Tony Sierzega swinging, before being called for a balk by field umpire Glenn Rasp, allowing Kaye to move into scoring position.
From there it started to unravel for the Rams, as Michaud was visibly upset by the balk call.
After a conference at the mound, Michaud walked two batters and the Rams committed three errors behind him in a disastrous inning that saw eleven Phantoms batters come to the plate.
“This is just one game of 18 on our league schedule,” said Brobst. “You aren’t going to win games with one hit. We didn’t hit well, we didn’t field well, and it had nothing to do with the cold weather. We just didn’t play well enough to win.”
The Phantoms (1-0 in the league) tied the game when pinch runner Shae Ferguson, who entered the game for Mike Jones after Jones reached base with a walk, scored when Jon Wheel hit into a fielder’s choice.
Phoenixville took its first lead of the game as Ammen scored when Michaud booted a ball hit back to the mound.
“That team is going to heard from,” said Phantoms manager Jack Sturgeon. “This was a big win for us. If we are going to compete in the PAC-10, it never hurts to steal a couple wins against a good team like that. We were very fortunate. It was frustrating to look up at the board and an 8-1 hit advantage and know we were three outs away from losing 4-1.”
Rams Notes:
One of the turning point in Monday’s game was the loss of senior catcher James Hoff, who jammed his shoulder diving back into first base in the third inning preventing a double play as Mike Oczypok lined out to short.
Clarke reached base on all four trips to the plate in an unusual manner, walking once and being hit by a pitch three times.
Phoenixville 000 010 7- 8
Spring-Ford 031 000 0- 4
Phantoms Pitching IP R ER H BB SO
Jones 2.3 4 4 1 5 3
Ammen (W 1-0) 4.6 0 0 0 0 4
Rams Pithcing IP R ER H BB SO
Larkin 6 1 1 8 1 5
Michaud (L 0-1) 1 7 4 3 2 2
SB-Romano, CS-Conway, 2B- Allen, Nattle. Errors SF- 3, Phx 2, time of game 2:32
Phoenixville AB R H RBI
Kaye rf 5 1 3 0
Sierzega 2b 5 1 0 0
Romano cf 2 1 1 0
Jones p/ 1b 4 0 1 0
Ferguson pr 0 1 0 0
Ammen 1b / p 4 1 2 3
Allen ss 3 1 2 0
Wheel 3b 4 1 1 1
Fina c 4 1 0 1
Nattle lf 4 0 1 2
Totals 35 8 11 7
Spring-Ford AB R H RBI
Medley lf 2 0 0 1
Grablewski 2b 3 0 1 2
Gorrell ss 3 0 0 0
Hoff c 1 0 0 0
Mellon cf 2 0 0 0
Oczypok 1b 4 0 0 0
Clarke 3b 0 1 0 0
Conway dh /c 1 1 0 0
Larkin p 2 0 0 0
Cratzenberg rf 2 1 0 0
Totals 20 3 1 3
