The Victoria Mariners sent ace Colton Wood out onto the mound against their cross-town sa国际传媒 Premier Baseball League rival Victoria Eagles, who replied with lefty Kurt Horne, a member of the national junior team.
Wood outlasted Horne for a 2-0 victory before an appreciative crowd at Lambrick Park.
The Mariners鈥� win avenges a loss just two weeks ago at Royal Athletic Park and snaps a five-game win streak for the Eagles.
鈥淥bviously, I like my guy and I鈥檒l take my guy if my life is on the line in a game over anybody else,鈥� Mariners manager Mike Chewpoy said of Wood. 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 seen Horne throw for over a year and I was impressed.鈥�
Wood allowed just two hits 鈥� a bunt that broke up the no-hitter in the third inning and a bloop single in the sixth 鈥� over seven full innings and finished with seven strikeouts.
Horne allowed five hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts, but one of those hits was a pop fly that fell between two outfielders who failed to communicate.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the fourth on a pair of hits, a walk that loaded the bases, sacrifice fly and wild pitch as David Warren and Morgan Varley trotted across home plate.
The game went into shut-down mode thanks to two of the best in the league.
鈥淚 said this earlier this year, I think Colton is one of the best in the country,鈥� boasted Chewpoy. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 the best in the Premier League and he gives us a chance every time out.鈥�
It was a pitching duel from the get-go as Horne threw 13 pitches for the Eagles in the first inning, 11 of which were strikes (including two strikeouts). Wood answered with an efficient eight-pitch first that included a fly ball and a couple of grounders. He also cruised through the second.
鈥淚 went out there and competed,鈥� said Wood. 鈥淚 knew it was going to be a pitchers鈥� duel the whole game and I just came out there trying to compete.鈥�
He did just that as the Mariners improved to 27-13, good for second place.
鈥淲e definitely got a pitching duel. It was as advertised,鈥� said Eagles general manager Gautam Srivistava. 鈥淭hey capitalized when they had runners on base and we didn鈥檛. That was the difference.
鈥淭he tone was set early. These guys were going to battle on he mound and neither team really made mistakes. Their second run ended up being huge because it changed the way we wanted to play.鈥�
The Eagles, now 19-14 and in fourth place, will face White Rock in a doubleheader today at noon at Lambrick Park.
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