July 14, 2020 at 5:31 p.m.
Swept and washed away
Rockets lose twice on Saturday, have Sunday doubleheader halted because of thunderstorms
Swept and washed away
FORT WAYNE and PORTLAND — Earlier in the week, Rocket pitchers struggled mightily.
When the hurlers finally came around Saturday, the bats were mostly absent.
The Portland Rockets dropped both games of a doubleheader Saturday to the Fort Wayne Blues at Carrington Field.
The Rockets (8-6) managed just four hits in a 5-1 game-one loss and had five hits in a 5-2 setback in the second game. They trailed 4-2 in the top of third inning in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday against the Fort Wayne Jackers at Runkle-Miller Field before thunderstorms canceled the remainder of the day.
The Fort Wayne Blues got ahead of Portland with one run in the first and fourth innings Saturday before putting up a three-spot in the fifth. Portland finally broke the shutout when Pavel Strain hit an RBI single to score Patrick Mills in the top of the sixth. One frame later, Nick Bailey scored on an Ethan Pittsford fielder’s choice, but the Rockets weren’t able to cut into the deficit any further.
Chandler Jacks went the distance for Portland, allowing five runs on nine hits. He struck out one and didn’t allow a walk.
Again in game two, Portland fell behind as Fort Wayne scored a run in the bottom of the second inning. Justin Greene answered with a solo home run to right field for his first round-tripper of the season. But a four-run fifth inning by the Blues was insurmountable for the Rockets.
Strain started on the hill for Portland, and he allowed only two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Layne Riley suffered the loss in relief, as he gave up all four runs in the fifth, his only inning.
Jacks, a 2016 Jay County High School graduate, recorded a double and two singles in the second game for the first three-hit game of his Rocket career.
On Sunday, Will Carr hit an opposite field, two-run home run to left field in the top of the first inning. His shot was in line but about 10 feet short of hitting the Portland Pizza King sign — the former scoreboard. The Fort Wayne lead didn’t last long, however, as the Rockets tied the game in the home half of the frame. Mills drew a two-out walk, and Chase Ruiz followed with a double to deep center field as Mills scored from first base.
The Jackers scored again in the second and plated another run in the third before rain and thunderstorms forced a delay with one out.
About a half hour later, with puddles all over the infield, the remainder of the day was canceled.
Schedule updates
Portland’s game with the Northeast Kekionga scheduled for tonight has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.
The Rockets hit the road this weekend for their annual trip north. They take on the South Bend Royals for two games at 1 p.m. Saturday, then meet the Mishawaka Brewers for a double feature at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both doubleheaders will be played at Bethel University.
Portland’s final regular season home game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. July 22 against the Jackers, four days before the two teams meet for a twin bill at Carrington Field.
On July 28, Portland hosts the Summit City Sluggers in the first round of a postseason tournament, of which the remaining games will be played July 30 through Aug. 1 at Carrington Field.
The Rockets will also participate in the Kokomo Invitational Aug. 6 through 8 at Highland Park. The schedule will be determined at a later date.
When the hurlers finally came around Saturday, the bats were mostly absent.
The Portland Rockets dropped both games of a doubleheader Saturday to the Fort Wayne Blues at Carrington Field.
The Rockets (8-6) managed just four hits in a 5-1 game-one loss and had five hits in a 5-2 setback in the second game. They trailed 4-2 in the top of third inning in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday against the Fort Wayne Jackers at Runkle-Miller Field before thunderstorms canceled the remainder of the day.
The Fort Wayne Blues got ahead of Portland with one run in the first and fourth innings Saturday before putting up a three-spot in the fifth. Portland finally broke the shutout when Pavel Strain hit an RBI single to score Patrick Mills in the top of the sixth. One frame later, Nick Bailey scored on an Ethan Pittsford fielder’s choice, but the Rockets weren’t able to cut into the deficit any further.
Chandler Jacks went the distance for Portland, allowing five runs on nine hits. He struck out one and didn’t allow a walk.
Again in game two, Portland fell behind as Fort Wayne scored a run in the bottom of the second inning. Justin Greene answered with a solo home run to right field for his first round-tripper of the season. But a four-run fifth inning by the Blues was insurmountable for the Rockets.
Strain started on the hill for Portland, and he allowed only two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Layne Riley suffered the loss in relief, as he gave up all four runs in the fifth, his only inning.
Jacks, a 2016 Jay County High School graduate, recorded a double and two singles in the second game for the first three-hit game of his Rocket career.
On Sunday, Will Carr hit an opposite field, two-run home run to left field in the top of the first inning. His shot was in line but about 10 feet short of hitting the Portland Pizza King sign — the former scoreboard. The Fort Wayne lead didn’t last long, however, as the Rockets tied the game in the home half of the frame. Mills drew a two-out walk, and Chase Ruiz followed with a double to deep center field as Mills scored from first base.
The Jackers scored again in the second and plated another run in the third before rain and thunderstorms forced a delay with one out.
About a half hour later, with puddles all over the infield, the remainder of the day was canceled.
Schedule updates
Portland’s game with the Northeast Kekionga scheduled for tonight has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.
The Rockets hit the road this weekend for their annual trip north. They take on the South Bend Royals for two games at 1 p.m. Saturday, then meet the Mishawaka Brewers for a double feature at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both doubleheaders will be played at Bethel University.
Portland’s final regular season home game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. July 22 against the Jackers, four days before the two teams meet for a twin bill at Carrington Field.
On July 28, Portland hosts the Summit City Sluggers in the first round of a postseason tournament, of which the remaining games will be played July 30 through Aug. 1 at Carrington Field.
The Rockets will also participate in the Kokomo Invitational Aug. 6 through 8 at Highland Park. The schedule will be determined at a later date.
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