An unlikely comeback win highlighted a so-so road trip for the Nanaimo Pirates.
The Hub City Paving Pirates split doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday against the Vancouver Cannons and North Shore Twins, respectively. Nanaimo won 7-6 and then lost 8-0 at New Westminster, then won 4-3 and lost 13-3 at North Vancouver.
The first game was remarkable in that the Pirates were losing 6-0 going into the final inning and batted around to take the lead.
“That was one that we stole…” said Doug Rogers, Pirates manager. “We were dead to rights. The stake was in already, we were ready for the second game.”
But the Cannons’ starter, having reached his pitch count, made way for a reliever who was battered so badly by the Pirates that his earned-run average this season is now 105.11.
Brady Rogers singled and doubled in the win and Braeden Mousseau had a hit, two walks and two runs batted in. Tanner Linn earned the win on the mound, allowing no earned runs in two relief innings.
The Pirates didn’t carry any momentum from the comeback win into the second half of the doubleheader, though, said the manager.
“We came out pretty flat and got pounded by a team that was pretty hungry,” he said.
In that one, Devon Geary, who had earned a save in the first game, remained on the mound and suffered the loss, giving up four earned runs over five innings.
The next day was similar. Alex Rogers threw a complete-game victory in the first game against the Twins, striking out nine, with offence coming from Bryan Borrelli who hit two doubles.
In the second game the Pirates were mercied in six innings with the Twins’ lineup amassing 20 hits. T.J. Mah took the loss, giving up three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Lee Martin was the offensive leader for Nanaimo in the game, hitting a single and a double and scoring two runs.
Though the weekend had its ups as well as its downs, Rogers and the other coaches will focus on the things that went wrong on the road trip.
“When you talk about consistency, you’ve got to look at the negatives and try to improve those things,” he said.
GAME ON … The Pirates are back on the road this coming weekend, visiting the Victoria Eagles on Saturday (April 20) then the White Rock Tritons on Sunday.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
