Despite scorching heat, Gulls' Chleborad improves to 2-0

Despite 95 degree heat at first pitch and temperatures in the mid-90’s throughout the contest, Tanner Chleborad went five and two thirds solid innings to improve to 2-0 this season and a trio of relievers combined to tossed the final three and a third innings as the Newport Gulls defeated the Sanford Mainers, 4-2, at Goodall Park on Wednesday, June 20.

Newport improves to 6-1 overall this season with the victory, while Sanford falls to 3-7 with the loss. Chleborad allowed just two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks with one hit batter over five plus innings of work to pick up the win in his second start of the season. Chleborad threw 89 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Sanford starter Ron Peierce (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits with a trio of walks and strikeouts over five and two thirds innings.

Frank Holbrook and Adam Ravenelle combined to throw two and one third scoreless innings in relief for Newport before closer Ryan Halstead slammed the door in the ninth inning to pick up his second save of the summer.

The Gulls managed just five hits and left only six men on base, while the Mainers racked up 11 hits and left 11 men on base in the loss.

Newport took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a bases loaded RBI sacrifice fly to right field by center fielder Yale Rosen, who picked up his eighth RBI of the season.

The Gulls extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning when second baseman Conor Keniry grounded into a fielders choice with the bases loaded, picking up his second RBI of the season, and a throwing error on the play by the shortstop Jose Torralba allowed a second Gulls run to score.

Chleborad worked with traffic on the base paths throughout the contest, but was able to escape a number of jams including a pivotal bases loaded one-out jam in the bottom of the fourth. Chleborad got Torralba to pop out to short and right fielder Ino Patron grounded out sharply to first base to end the threat.

Norwood added a key insurance run with an RBI groundout in the top of the eighth inning by outfielder John Norwood, his first RBI of the season, to make it 4-2 Newport.

Newport will be back in action taking on the New Bedford Bay Sox at home on Friday, June 22. Brett Graves (0-0, 1.29 ERA) will make his first start of the summer of the Newport Gulls.

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