Hitting began to catch on during Day 3 of the Area Code Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif., as the White Sox and Nationals both came from behind with big rallies to pick up wins.
The White Sox scored seven runs in sixth to knock off the A's 9-4 while the Nationals scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to top the Brewers Blue 5-3.
Meanwhile the Brewers White had the top offensive output of the tournament so far with a 10-run outburst against the Rangers in the early game Saturday, winning 10-3.
The Reds and Yankees, however, settled for a 1-1 tie game that went nine innings.
Brewers White 10, Rangers 3
Scoring: The Brewers White broke out for four runs in the first inning and had a three-run rally in the fourth. Shawon Dunston scored the first run when he walked and scored on a passed ball during Billy Flamion’s at-bat. Kevin Kramer singled and Tyler Goeddel and Flamion both walked to load the bases for Aaron Brown. Kramer scored on a passed ball, but Brown brought the other two baserunners home with Dunston scored his second run of the game in the second inning when he singled and scored on Goeddel’s triple.
In the fourth, the Rangers got two quick outs when Desmond Henry was tagged out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple and Dunston grounded out. However Kramer and Goeddel both walked and Flamion reached on an error, scoring Kramer. Brown came through again with a two-run single to put Milwaukee up 8-1.
Flamion accounted for a run in the sixth when he singled home Christopher Keck, who had reached on a basehit and stole second. Dunston scored the final run in the seventh when he singled, stole second, went to third on a dropped third strike and scored on the throw down to first to get the batter.
Wayne Taylor scored the first run for Texas in the third inning as he walked and scored on a wild pitch. The Rangers added two more in the fifth. Taylor walked and scored on an error. Nick Williams scored the final run when he singled and scored on Daniel Mengden’s sacrifice fly.
Top Pitcher: Spencer Linney started on the mound for the Brewers White and did not give up a hit or run in two innings with three strikeouts and two walks.
Top Hitter: Brown had a huge game, going 4-for-4 with a pair of two-run singles for four RBI. Dunston also was a thorn on the basepaths for the Rangers as he was 2-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored and two stolen bases.
Best Hit: Desmond Henry had two big hits to the exact same place in right centerfield. On the first hit, Henry tried to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out at third base. On the second hit, Henry settled for a double.
Best Defensive Play: Trevor Story of the Rangers tracked down Henry’s hit to deep right centerfield, relayed to second baseman Chris McFarland, who made a perfect throw to Matthew Dean at third base to catch the speedy Henry.
White Sox 9, Athletics 4
Scoring: The White Sox overcame a 4-2 deficit in the sixth inning with a seven-run rally. Mason Snyder opened the scoring when he walked and scored on Cody Kukuk’s sacrifice fly. C.J. Picerni followed with a basehit and Derek Starling grounded out to the third baseman, who forced out Picerni at second for the second out of the inning. Blake Hickman, who had singled, scored on the groundout to tie the score at 4-4.
Chicago added five more runs with two outs. Delso followed Starling with a walk and Ty Hensley doubled to leftfield to score two runs. Zachary Regier added a single to right, scoring Hensley, and Drake Roberts walked to put runners at first and third. Regier scored on Roberts’ steal of second and Roberts scored on Brian Anderson’s single to left field.
The White SoxAthletics opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Charles Tilson walked and Starling reached base on an error. Tilson scored the first run on a wild pitch and Starling scored on Brendon Hayden’s basehit to left field.
The Athletics scored the next four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Oakland tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the first. James Harris Jr. singled, went to second on an error and stole third. He then scored on Kenneth Gaines Jr.’s sacrifice fly. Tanner Pollack followed with a double and scored on Charles Sheffield III’s sacrifice fly.
In the second, Jo-El Bennett singled, stole second and third, and scored on a passed ball. In the third, Zac Freeman singled, stole second, and scored on Gaines’ double.
Top Pitcher: Jerrick Suiter entered the game in the fifth and helped shut down the Athletics. He went two innings and did not allow a run or a hit while striking out four with no walks.
Top Hitter: Hensley was 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI.
Best Hit: Hensley’s double in the sixth drove in the winning runs for the White Sox.
Best Defensive Play: Chase Griffin of the Athletics threw out Charles Tilson of the White Sox trying to steal third base. Tilson had stolen five bases in two games before being caught by Griffin.
Nationals 5, Brewers Blue 3
Scoring: In the most exciting game of the tournament thus far, the Nationals scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to come from behind against the Brewers Blue, who had scored two runs in the top of the seventh.
Trailing 2-1 entering the seventh inning, Milwaukee scored twice with two outs. Jacob Anderson reached base on an error and stole second. He scored on Taylor Sparks’ basehit. Sparks also stole second and scored on Timothy Lopes’ single.
The Nationals rallied in the bottom of the seventh for three runs. Tyler Gonzales began the inning by reaching on an error. Brian Olson and Porter Clayton both singled to load the bases. Erik Forgione then doubled to right field scoring Gonzales; however, Olson was thrown out at home. Clint Coulter and Dylan LaVelle both followed with basehits to drive in the final two runs.
Milwaukee opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Daniel Camarena walked, advanced to third on singles by Travis Harrison and Kenny Mathews and scored on a double play groundout by Max Homick.
Washington took the lead in the bottom of the inning. LaVelle walked and Michael Reed reached on a fielder’s choice to set up Michael Conforto’s two-run single.
Top Pitcher: Joseph Musgrove tossed three hitless, scoreless innings for the Brewers Blue, striking out three and walking none.
Top Hitter: Porter Clayton was 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Nationals.
Best Hit: Erik Forgione came through with a run-scoring double, the only extra basehit of the game for either team.
Best Defensive Play: Milwaukee centerfielder Jacob Anderson threw out a runner at home plate in the seventh inning.
Yankees 1, Reds 1
Scoring: Each team scored a run early and then put zeroes on the scoreboard for the next seven innings to end in a 1-1 tie. The Yankees scored first when Cameron Gallagher walked, stole second, and came home on Nelson Rodriguez’s basehit to left field.
The Reds answered in the second when Brett Harrison opened the inning with a triple and scored on Greg Bird’s groundout.
Top Pitcher: Strong efforts by both Tyler Beede and Karl Keglovits of New York, both of whom threw three innings and allowed no runs on two hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Top Hitter: Nelson Rodriguez was 1-for-2 and had an RBI single for the Yankees.
Best Hit: Harrison’s triple led to the only run for the Reds.
Best Defensive Play: Cincinnati’s Drew Stankiewicz roamed far to his left and made a diving stop of Elvin Soto’s grounder to the right side and threw out the runner at first base.
