Failure to launch

The Rockets walked the first two batters, giving up a run in the opening inning without allowing a hit. They dropped a fly ball in the second inning, and a had a runner get picked off of first base in the third.
They struggled to even pick up the ball on sacrifice bunts, and once even kicked it.
Tuesday’s game was a disaster in many forms for the Portland squad as it fell 12-1 to the visiting Ohio Warhawks.
The teams will meet again tonight at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
“What do you say after that? They answered the call when Van Wert folded,” said Rockets’ manager Randy Miller of the Warhawks, who filled in for Tuesday’s scheduled opponent. “I look at tomorrow as a most interesting rubber match. We beat them 7-2 earlier. They kicked our fanny tonight.”
Portland (18-7), which committed eight errors while garnering only four hits, struggled from the start as pitcher Travis Gray walked Mardu Smith and Joe Stoll to lead off the game. Ohio got on the board without the benefit of a hit when Smith scored on a wild pitch.
A dropped fly ball helped the Warhawks score three times in the second inning, and the Rockets committed four errors to give up four unearned runs in the third. Two of those miscues came on sacrifice bunt attempts.
Ohio (25-4) added two runs, one earned, in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and two in the sixth for a 12-0 lead.
“They didn’t come to play, and we had pretty good pitching,” said Warhawks manager Ron Slusher. “Everything went right for us tonight. They kicked the ball around for us a little bit.
“We know the situation. Tomorrow night will be totally (different).”
While seven different batters combined for 11 Ohio hits, the Rockets struggled at the plate.
After allowing two base runners on a walk and an infield single in the first inning, Warhawks’ starter Chase Baster struck out five of the next six batters he faced before leaving after three innings of work. Portland managed just three hits, including Justin Marrero’s second infield single of the game, against a trio of Ohio relievers.
“All of them, especially the first two, were hitting their spots,” said Slusher. “They were painting the corners. They were just living on the outside. (The Rockets) were looking for something on the inside and we weren’t giving in to them.
“We got ahead, and that was the key. Our pitchers were ahead of almost every hitter.”
Portland got its only run in the sixth inning after Justin Miller led off with a single. Dalton Tinsley followed with a single to right field, and pinch runner Eli Jones scored Marrero’s infield single.
“Let’s face it, we scored one run and that was mostly by accident,” said Randy Miller. “Their pitching was superb.
“They just threw heat. … That’s power pitching. We’re supposed to be timing that up …”
Jordan Wilson of Georgia and Smith of South Carolina had no problems against the Portland pitching staff. Smith notched two hits, two walks, three runs, three RBIs and one of Ohio’s four stolen bases, and Wilson was 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs and an RBI.
Travis Gray (Heidelberg University) suffered the loss for Portland, giving up four runs — three earned — on three hits and four walks in two-plus innings.
Miller said he hopes to see his team come back strong tonight with Billy Geeslin (Urbana) on the mound. Geeslin struck out 12 batters in six innings in Portland’s 7-2 victory over the Warhawks on June 19.
“In the words of Jim Leyland, ‘You’re only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher,’” said Miller. “Billy Geeslin is a competitor. Billy Geeslin beat them last time … We’re playing a seven-inning game and we’re going to ride him.”[[In-content Ad]]