Portland falls to Northrup, tops SN (07/11/05)

After a rough Saturday, the Portland Rockets picked up a couple of one-run wins Sunday to salvage a weekend split.

Portland’s Sunday victories — 2-1 and 5-4 over Shady Nook — improved the top-ranked team by Indiana Semi-Pro Baseball to 24-13 on the season.

Those wins came after a pair of difficult games Saturday against Fort Wayne Northrup, a team the Rockets are glad to be rid of for the rest of the season. Northrup handed Portland a pair of defeats — 10-2 and 5-2 — at Runkle-Miller Field.

Northrup had also defeated Portland 3-2 Monday.

The Rockets got back on track Sunday behind Jimmy Linder. He struck out eight batters as he tossed a three-hitter for the victory.

The winning run came on a squeeze bunt by Lenny Koesters which brought Jay County graduate Mitch Waters to the plate with the winning run.

Matt Steinke played the hero in game two as his home run off former Major Leaguer and former Rocket Keith Sheperd provided the margin of victory. Steinke also was in on a key defensive play in the seventh as he made the tag on a throw from left fielder Adam Childs to nail the would-be tying run at the plate.

Nick Pfeffenbarger picked up the win in relief of Jeff Trueblood.

Saturday was not so much fun as Portland fell to 1-5 in its last six games with three of those losses coming against Northrup.

The tone was set in the first inning of game one when Northrup scored a couple of runs on a Scott Tarnowski single, a Matt Salisbury triple and a sacrifice fly from Keith Felton. Portland had a chance to come back immediately, but could not score even after the No. 1, 2 and 3 hitters — Pete Milas, Phil Bruns and Kyle Dygert — got on by way of a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks.

Northrup went on to score twice in the second inning and then put the game out of reach with five runs in the fourth.

The lone Rocket highlight came in the seventh when manager Randy Miller entered the game and got a single. It was one of just four hits for Portland and marked the fifth decade in which Miller has gotten a hit at Runkle-Miller Field.

Luther Selby had a double in the contest and drove in both Rocket runs. Phil Ernst suffered the defeat as he gave up nine runs on nine hits in four innings.

Joe Enger earned the win for Northrup, going the distance and allowing just two runs — one earned.

Tarnowski and Salisbury each finished with two hits, two runs and two RBIs. Keith Felton drove in three runs, and Bret Doty had a trio of hits.

Game two was closer, but crazier.

Northrup got its first three runs when Salisbury tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second in the third inning. Portland catcher Brandon Cooley fielded the ball, but his throw in the dirt went bounding to the fence by the tarp in foul territory in right field.

Right fielder Kris Steffen tracked down the ball, spun and threw it directly into the light pole, sending it hopping back intoright field. By the time Steffen tracked it down again Salisbury was on his way home with for a 3-0 lead.

Portland scored twice in the fifth inning, but Northrup added two more runs in the sixth thanks to two walks, an RBI double by Kyle Felton and an RBI single from Kyle Murphy.

Murphy finished 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI from his No. 9 spot in the order. Keith Felton added a pair of hits and a run, and Joel Bigler went the distance, allowing two unearned runs for the win.

Mike Linder took the loss, allowing five runs — three earned — on seven hits in seven innings.

Steffen had a pair of hits and a run, and Steinke singled and scored once. Selby added an RBI as he drove in three of the four Rocket runs on the day.[[In-content Ad]]