Rowles rescues Rockets

Everything was working for the Rockets.

The offense consistently produced runs, all four pitchers put in solid efforts and the defense was sharp for a majority of the game. That combination produced an easy win over the Chiefs.

The Portland Rockets played a complete game Tuesday evening in its 8-3 beating of the Muncie Chiefs.

“That was probably one of our best games this year,” said coach Randy Miller. “We’ve been playing some good baseball now. We’ve got a little swag and won the Fort Wayne League. They’re a younger team so this is an opportunity for us to get our reps in mid-week. But it’s a baseball game and they threw some skilled guys and we looked like we could hit the ball and we threw well too.”

A pair of wins and two forfeits over the weekend officially locked the Rockets (21-7) into the top spot in the conference to earn them a bye into the semifinal on July 25 at Runkle-Miller Field.

They kept the ball rolling right away against the Chiefs. Portland’s first run came in the first inning after Crosby Heniser drew a walk and moved to second on a Corban White single, hit third after a wild pitch and crossed home on Jonny Heitkamp’s sacrifice fly.

Cameron Pratt made a trip around the bases in the second with a double, a throwing error by catcher Luke Diebold and a passed ball.

On the other side of the ball, Heniser was dealing for Portland. He struck out the first two batters and while he gave up a double to the third, a perfect throw from Pratt to White got Justin Cox out at third base to end the first inning. He gave up a single and a walk in the second, but a third strikeout and a 6-4-3  double play kept all the runners at bay.

Heniser struck out the first batter of the third inning and threw three straight balls before being removed mid-at bat due to a blister on his hand.

Cody Rowles had to take his warmup pitches on the mound rather than the bullpen after getting thrust into the game. While he threw the fourth ball to issue Heniser’s walk to Brock Zickgraf, he got the next two batters to ground out without much trouble.

“I just focused on making sure I hit my spots,” Rowles said. “I didn’t have time to get warm, so I just needed to throw fastballs that first inning then go get warm and be ready to come back.”

Rowles ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning, giving up a pair of doubles to Cox and Carter Stephenson and a single to Luke Gilman that allowed a pair of runs to cross.

He bounced back to strike out the side in the fifth inning.

“I was just really (mad) and wanted to make sure I didn’t give up any more runs after that,” Rowles said of the dominant fifth frame.

Rowles threw two more scoreless innings to end his night two two earned runs on three hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

Nathan Musleman and Tyler Reynolds did their jobs in the eighth and ninth innings to put the Chiefs away as they combined for one unearned run on zero hits, one walk and two strike outs.

In general, the Rockets’ defense backed up their pitchers throughout the game. The only hiccups prior to a pair of botched ground balls in the ninth inning that led to a run was a failed pickoff that Kenny Bailey didn’t hold onto at first base. 

“We had a double play, a nice throw to third to nail a runner in the first inning and we had great outfield catches,” Miller said. “If we play like that, we have a chance to be a force come tournament time.”

While the pitchers kept Muncie’s bats quiet, the Rockets’ lineup continued to push runs across.

The Rockets scored a run in the third inning on a blast by Joel Kennedy that landed in the woods beyond left field as Pratt came home on a fielder’s choice hit by Trey Pullins.

Two more runs scored in the fourth on a passed ball and a fielder’s choice to put Portland up 6-2. It went three-up, three-down in the sixth inning, one of two innings it didn’t score, but came back with another pair in the seventh. Those runs came on a wild pitch and an error by Gilman at shortstop.

“Whenever Joel Kennedy’s here, it’s electrifying,” Miller said, referencing the home run. “Several guys had a lot of at bats tonight and I think it’s a great night.”

The Rockets will close out the regular season with a trip to Fort Wayne to face the Jackers today and a doubleheader on Saturday against the Royals.