Fantastic fourth

It had been nine days since the Rockets last played, so a slow start was expected.
But once the offense got going, the train was hard to slow down.
A nine-run fourth inning in game one and seven runs in the same frame of the second game gave the Portland Rockets a doubleheader sweep of the Indiana Bandits on Saturday at Portland Memorial Park’s Runkle-Miller Field.
“If we don’t play during the week and get plenty of at bats over the weekend we are going to be a little rusty,” said Portland manager Randy Miller, whose team defeated the Bandits 14-8 in the first game before a 12-1, five-inning victory in the second game. “We were rusty because we had some time off.”
The slow start in game once saw Portland (9-2), which boasts a seven-game winning streak, manage only three hits through the first three innings and trail the Bandits 5-2 heading into the fourth.
That’s when the Bandits went to the bullpen, taking out starter Cameron Glaze after three innings in favor of Tyler Westerich.
It’s also when the Rockets started to get its offense going.
Bill Geeslin and Zach Tanner hit back-to-back RBI singles, and later in the inning Alex Delk and Collin Affolder drew bases-loaded walks for a 6-5 Rocket advantage. The four runs chased Westerich from the game after seven batters, and Cameron Gruell was still unable to record an out. A wild pitch and an error plated two more runs for Portland, before Kevin Sharpe blasted a three-run home run to left field to complete the nine-run inning.
“Confidence builds up and natural talent takes over,” Miller said. Sharpe had been struggling at the plate recently, making good, strong contact with the ball but hitting right at fielders. When he rounded third and trotted home, he smiled from ear to ear as he was greeted at the plate by his teammates.
“He had some strong at bats,” Miller added. Sharpe added a double to go 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the opener. He added a hit and an RBI in the second game as well. “I think he can do that on a regular basis.”
Portland totaled seven hits in the frame and had a dozen players bat before the Bandits recorded an out. In all, the Rockets sent 15 to the plate.
Sharpe’s RBI double in the fifth inning made it 12-6 Portland, which extended the lead to 14-6 after Zach Tanner one-hopped the scoreboard in left field for a two-run home run.
Alex Boos cut into the deficit with a two-run shot of his own in the top of the seventh but the Bandits couldn’t muster much else.
In addition to his performance at the plate, Sharpe picked up the win on the mound in relief of Andrew Bobeck. Sharpe scattered six hits over five innings, allowed three earned runs while striking out two and walking a pair. Bobeck couldn’t get out of the third inning, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked two.
In the second game, Portland’s offense continued to roll as 2002 Jay County High School graduate Mitch Waters hit a two-run double as part of a three-run first inning.
The Rockets scored twice in the second before striking four seven more runs in the fourth. TJ Lindstrand and Geeslin had RBI singles, Waters and Sharpe drew bases-loaded walks and Dalton Tinsley blasted a two-run single — his second hit of the inning — to right field. Geoff Bowers also had a double and scored a run as the Rockets led 12-1 after four innings.
Portland totaled 25 hits in the twinbill, including 16 from the top four spots in the order — Tinsley, Geeslin, Tanner and Waters.
“These guys are good players,” said Miller, whose team travels to Taylor University to take on the Twin City Bankers at 7 p.m. Wednesday. “They’re going to find a way. It’s fun to watch. We also had three double plays in the first game, which I like to watch those too.
“It is a part of our success story. Show up and let them play.”
Dan Bollenbacher dazzled yet again, lasting all five innings of the second game. He scattered five hits, gave up one earned run, walked one and struck out eight. He got himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning with back-to-back strikeouts, and stranded runners at the corners in the fourth inning too. The first, third and fifth frames were all clean for the flame-throwing righty, who improved to 3-0 on the season.