Blues Walkoff Against the Legends for Second Consecutive Night
San Luis Obispo, Calif. – It is never fun to be on the wrong end of a walkoff victory. It is never fun to be on the wrong end of a conference game. It is never fun to blow a ninth inning lead. Unfortunately, the Legends know that feeling all-too-well as the San Luis Obispo Blues were able to take another conference game away from Menlo Park. In what can easily be described as the wildest and most entertaining game of the summer, Menlo Park eventually let one slip away from the Blues after having leads in the ninth and twelfth innings. San Luis Obispo scored the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the twelfth to win 9-8 and improve to 13-11 this summer. Menlo Park falls to 15-9-1 and more importantly just 4-7-1 in CCL games.
The first four runs of the game went to the Blues, who got on the board early against Legends starter Tyler Ivey. Making his second start of the summer for the Legends, the right-hander out of Texas A&M was able to settle down after the first three innings and give his team a solid start when all was said and done. He pitched into the eighth inning where he allowed a lead off baserunner and was promptly pulled. While he did allow a total of four runs over seven-plus innings, he helped save the bullpen on a night when it would certainly be needed.
Down four runs early, the Legends weren’t able to get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning when the put up another four spot like they did the night before. Nick Brooks doubled home a run, Turner Bishop drove home two more, and Scott Ota tied the game a single. Four quick runs, and the game was brought to a 4-4 tie. Backing up their starting pitcher, the Legends offense would score twice more in the top of the seventh with a Patrick McColl sacrifice fly and Sean Watkins scored on a wild pitch. Ivey left with the lead in the eighth and the Legend tacked on one more in the top of the ninth with an RJ Williams pinch hit single. Heading into the ninth inning with a three run, 7-4 lead, things felt pretty good for the Legends.
The Blues would rally for three runs in the bottom of the ninth against Legends pitcher Ryan Lefner, and the game would see extra innings. Both teams were held in check for the first two extra frames, and the Legends put one on the board in the top of the twelfth to re-take the lead at 8-7, the score from the night before. Looking to finish it off, Lefner was back on the mound for Menlo Park and had two outs before the Blues would rally once more. A basehit, a hit batter, and another single would tie the game up at 8-8. This time, the Blues would not settle for a tie. After an intentional walk to load the bases and set up the force at any bag, an infield single won the game for the Blues 9-8. Heartbroken for the second consecutive night, the Legends were unable to hold a lead or a tie game when it mattered most.
As thrilling as the first two games have been, the third game should be even better, right? If so, then you will definitely want to tune in to game three of the series for the Legends and Blues as it wraps up at Sinsheimer Park with first pitch at 6:00 PM. Coverage of the game is being provided by www.bluesbaseball.com.
