Box Score (GM 1)
Box Score (GM 2)
LONG BEACH – The POWER (20-2, 9-2) split a doubleheader with the Long Beach Legends, winning game two, 4-0, to rebound from a 4-3 loss in game one.
In game one, Palm Springs’ rally from an early deficit fell just short. Starter Jackson McClelland grappled with his command from the first inning, allowing a double and consecutive RBI singles to Ray Patchen and Aaron Gray, respectively, to make it 2-0.
In the third inning, the POWER’s hill to climb was made steeper. The first two hitters of the frame walked. After a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners 90 feet, Gray delivered for the Legends again, this time a two-RBI single to make it 4-0.
Mark Lukowski was called on to halt the Legends attack there and did so effectively. The right-hander escaped the third inning with back-to-back strikeouts before throwing four additional scoreless frames to give Palm Springs a fighting chance.
Palm Springs battled hard to overturn the deficit and shrunk the Legend’s lead to 4-3 with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. However, the rally fell just short as the POWER were dealt just their second loss of the summer.
In game two, Palm Springs and Long Beach locked in a tight pitchers duel for six innings before the POWER finally broke through.
Mitch Bluman made his first start of the season and put in a stellar performance. The southpaw went 7 1/3 innings and allowed just seven hits to keep the Legends at bay.
Palm Springs took the lead in the seventh on a perfectly executed delayed double-steal. T.J. Bennett and Anthony Torres both worked walks in the frame and, with two out, Torres left first early to get caught in a rundown. Once the ball was thrown from the pitcher to second base, Bennett broke towards home and scampered safely under the tag with the game’s first run.
Michael Massi extended the POWER lead in the ninth with a two-RBI single, his second such hit in three days against the Legends. Pete Reyes shut the door with 1 2/3 in relief of Bluman to earn his third save of the year.
By splitting the doubleheader Palm Springs locks up the season series, 3-1, and also maintains its 1 1/2 game lead over Long Beach in the SCCBL.
The POWER are back in action on Friday when they host the Casa Grande Cotton Kings for the first of two games at Palm Springs Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Remember, Friday is Dollar Beer Night, with Bud and Bud Light drafts available for only $1. Fans that cannot make it to the game can tune in on pspbb.com.
