Metro Bucs hold fort against Braves in 4-3 walk-off

June 22, 2018 -LOS ANGELES-

With the Bucs down to their last strike, Josh Argarian sent a looping flare to short right field triggering full sprints from two outfielders and the Braves’ second baseman; Steven Knezevich rounded third as the ball dropped between the fielders granting the Bucs the 4-3 walk-off victory.

Argarian casually rounded first as he was mobbed by his teammates. The hit prevented the second draw in as many days for the Bucs and, more importantly, prevented a game they deserved to win from slipping through their grasp.

A run in the fifth inning seemed to ensure a defensive victory for Ventura. Instead, the Braves responded with a perfectectly executed offensive half of the sixth. Muro, who showed up late to the game, made up for it by leading off the inning with a single in his first at bat. He was promptly sacrificed to second on a bunt from the leadoff hitter and scored on a triple from the Braves pitcher, Grant, who himself scored after a Bucs error, the only one they would commit in the game

With the game suddenly tied, silence defined the middle of the sixth.

However, Jake Carroll, against whom the two runs were scored, saw to it that the Braves would not taste any further success against him. He pitched four innings of relief allowing multiple base runners in only one of them. He walked one while striking out three.

Kolby Steeg started on the mound for Ventura and faced only two more than the minimum in his three innings while allowing no walks. Knezevich and Hagen collaborated to give him a run of support in the second, as the two wild pitches to Hagen allowed Knezevich to move from first to third in an at bat that ended in an RBI single.

Jason Starrells, the eventual winning pitcher, followed a similar pattern to Carroll. He allowed two hits, two stolen bases, and a run in the eighth, but kept the score tied in the final inning. He walked the leadoff batter in the ninth before striking out the next three Braves.

Elsewhere in the organization, the CCL Bucs lost 11-7 to the Arroyo Seco Saints at Brookside park in Pasadena.

The Metro Bucs will play their third game in as many days Friday, June 22, at Pote field in Griffith park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

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