Steak Series is Evened up 1-1

The first game of the 2020 Steak Series picked up on Saturday with Team Black leading 9-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Hambleton was placed on the mound from centerfield and Austin Schroeder was up to bat for Team Red. 

Schroeder led off the inning with a single to center field. He would eventually end up scoring as Skyler McManus singled to drive him in. After a few batters, the bases were loaded for Kolton Beckett. He was then hit by a pitch and was rewarded with an RBI. The lead cut down to six runs and there were no outs. Manger Zach Seavers would decide to bring in Mitch Binder to replace Hambleton. Binder enters the game with the lead-off batter Blaine Dunning due up and the bases still loaded. Binder strikes out Dunnning to record the first out. Jaidon Erivez would single to center to drive in another run, Jarrett Reed was thrown out at home trying to score on the hit. That's all the team Red could manage to score. Heading to the final inning Team Black had a 9-4 lead.  

Reed was on the bump to start the seventh inning for Team Red. Avery Dugan led off with a single and Derek Phillips followed with a bunt-single. Dugan and Phillips would end the scoring to extend the lead to 11-4. Both of the runs were unearned. 

Binder would get the last three outs to close the door for Team Black. After one game, Team Black led the series 1-0. Christian Padilla, Binder, and Seavers accounted for nine of the team's 12 hits. Binder had two RBIs and two runs. 

WP: Seavers: 3.2 IP, 5 HA, 0 ER, 8 SO

LP: Garret: 4.0 IP, 6 HA, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 SO

Save: Binder 2.0 IP, 1 HA, 0 ER, 1 SO

Team Red would face elimination with a loss in game two which followed about 30 minutes after game one. Team Black would be the home team and started Kyle Sanders while Team Red would start McManus.

The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning as Phillips reached on a fielder's choice which resulted in scoring Sanders and would give Team Black the lead. Team Red would even the score in the top of the third with a double from Dunning to score Beckett. Team Red would end up leaving two runners on base and missed an opportunity to take the lead. 

The first pitching change would occur in the fifth inning with Team Black sending Binder to the mound to relieve Sanders. Beckett doubled to left field to start the inning and would score later in the inning thanks to a passed ball. Team Red now led 2-1. Beckett would relieve McManus after he recorded two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

From the bottom of the fifth and on neither team had a baserunner to finish the game. There were a total of seven strikeouts between both teams in the last two and a half innings. Team Red would even up the series with a 2-1 victory.

Team Red was led by their pitching, only allowing one run, one hit, and recording ten strikeouts. Dunning was one for three and had the lone RBI, as the second run was unearned. Team Red out hit Team Black four to one. Phillips had the only RBI without recording a hit for Team Black. 

WP: McManus: 4.2 IP, 1 HA, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 SO

LP: Sanders: 4.0 IP, 3 HA, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 SO

Save: Beckett: 2.1 IP, 0 HA, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 SO 

Team Red evens up the series 1-1 to force a game three. Game three will be Wednesday, October 28th first pitch at 4:00 P.M.