In The News
'Snakes Win Dramatic Game in Ninth
Friday, June 09, 2006
St. Joseph, MO—In a night ruled by offense, the Blacksnakes (10-17) scored a walk-off win on Denver Kitch’s single in the ninth, 10-9, over Sioux City (13-14) in the series opener at Phil Welch Stadium. The ‘Snakes have won four in a row and five out of six.
It was a game that saw about everything, as the teams combined for 19 runs, 30 hits, 2 catcher’s interference calls, and inside-the-park home run and a walk-off win for the ‘Snakes.
St. Joe struck big early with a four-run first inning, highlighted by Jake Whitesides’ inside-the-park home run. They took a seemingly comfortable 5-0 lead in the second on Scooter Jordan’s sacrifice fly.
But Dustin Kupper would have to leave his start after just 2 2/3 innings and Sioux City struck for the next seven runs against Kupper and the bullpen, going ahead with a four-run fifth, 7-5.
St. Joe’s offense went back to work in the sixth, tying the game at seven on Jimmy Mojica’s two-run single to right. Later in the inning, with two outs, Ben Thomas came through with another two-run hit to put the ‘Snakes back ahead.
The Explorers tied it with three straight two-out hits in the eighth, scoring twice to make it 9-9.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Mark Burke walked and Terrell Merriman singled. After a fly out and a pitching change, Denver Kitch singled to right, scoring pinch-runner Shingo Mitsumori for the winning run in a wild ballgame.
St. Joe now looks to win a season-best fifth straight on Saturday against Sioux City. 7:05pm is game time and Heartland Health mini-bats will be given away and the gates open at 6pm at Phil Welch Stadium. Shingo Mitsumori (0-2) starts for the ‘Snakes against the Explorers’ Billy Keppinger (2-2). The Heartland Health Pre-Game Show kicks-off our broadcast at 6:45pm at www.stjoeblacksnakes.com.