Portland falls in extras at regional

CINCINNATI — The Rockets have been able to capitalize on many opportunities this season.
Friday was not one of those instances.
A handful of misplays in the field and missed chances at the plate led to the Portland Rockets falling 3-2 in eight innings to the Oswego Cats in the second game of the National Amateur Baseball Federation regional tournament at Roselawn Park.
The loss snapped a 12-game winning streak for Portland (26-6), which concludes pool play at 4:30 p.m. today against the Cincinnati Mudcats.
The top two teams in each of the four-team pools advance to Sunday’s single-elimination tournament.
“We had every opportunity, just did not cash in,” said Randy Miller, Portland’s manager. “We understand the baseball gods say, you get to play baseball again one more day.”
Oswego (14-15), a team from the suburban Chicago area, tied the score at two apiece with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Then, Portland got runners on second and third with none gone in the home half of the frame but wasn’t able to push across the game-winning run.
Ben Breymier grounded out to third base for the first out, and Dalton Tinsley ripped a liner to the shortstop, who threw out Tristen Becker at the plate. Bill Geeslin, who suffered the loss in relief of starter Craig Martin, struck out swinging to end the seventh.
Breymier, Portland’s catcher, dropped the third strike in the top half of the eighth inning, and first baseman Mitch Waters was unable to field the throw as the Cats’ baserunner may have ventured too far on the inside of the baseline.
Miller argued to no avail, and the Cats’ baserunner later came around to score the eventual game-winning run as Portland went down in order in the bottom of the eighth.
“We had a chance to make another comeback, but they made some defensive plays,” Miller said. “We squandered a good start by Craig Martin.
“We had some cracks in our armor and it showed.”
Martin scattered five hits over 5 1/3 innings of work while walking two and striking out three. He gave up one unearned run.
Geeslin walked two and gave up five hits, surrendering two runs, one of which was earned.
Justin Marrero and Dalton Tinsley paced the Portland offense, each going 2-for-4 with a double. Marrero knocked in two runs and Tinsley scored twice. Zach Tanner, DJ Manning and Waters each added hits.
Still, Miller much prefers to have lost during pool play than an elimination game on Sunday.
“If we’re going to stub our toe it’s good we did it today,” he said. “We have a chance to make it right from here on out. We’re still contending.”
And to advance to Sunday’s semifinal, Portland will turn to Dan Bollenbacher this afternoon. Miller said he hoped to save the flamethrower for Sunday. But with a berth in limbo, the Rockets have to rely on their ace sooner than expected.
“We have our own destiny to control,” Miller said. “We’ll ride the shoulder of the big 6-foot, 5-inch, guy … We’ll put our marbles in his hat and see where it takes us.
“We’ll lick our wounds and come back tomorrow.”