For the second straight game, Keyport will face off against Long Branch. The Raiders will venture away from home to face off against the Green Wave at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Keyport has given up an average of 9 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Long Branch hit Keyport with a five-run first inning on Wednesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Raiders fell 13-8 to the Green Wave. The Raiders just can't catch a break and have now endured three losses in a row.
For Long Branch's part, David Jules and Havier Gonzalez did most of the damage at the plate: Jules got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI, while Gonzalez got on base in four of his five plate appearances with five stolen bases and four runs. Those four runs gave Gonzalez a new career-high. Cameron Sarisky also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Long Branch always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .545. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Keyport only posted an OBP of .400.
Long Branch has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 4-3 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.6 runs over those games. As for Keyport, they now have a losing record of 2-3.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Keyport has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .444. However, it's not like Long Branch struggles in that department as they've averaged .592. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
