Big innings bite Graders again in 9-7 loss to Locos

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LIMA — For the second consecutive evening, Lima batters got the better of a Galion starting pitcher and did just enough damage to give the Locos a 9-7 win over the Graders on Wednesday at Simmons Field in Lima.

The Locos (9-5) chased Graders starter Will Ore (2-2) after just 1-2/3 innings, scoring five runs on four hits. Ore finished with two strikeouts and a pair of walks before giving way to A.J. Cecil. Lima roughed up Cecil, too, tallying three runs on two hits in just an inning and a third.

Ben Hamilton replaced Cecil and gave up a run on three hits in three innings of work. Kody Brown pitched the final two innings for Galion and held Lima scoreless on two hits.

Will Kilgore opened the scoring for the Locos in the first inning with his fifth home run of the season to put his side on top, 1-0. Tyler Beckwith had a two-run single in the second and Trey Logan and Mitchell Carriger each drove in a run to push the Lima lead to 5-0.

In a three-run third inning for the Locos, Luke Reynolds singled home a run and Billy Lipari doubled in another run. Lipari scored Lima’s third run on a wild pitch. The Locos led 8-0 after three.

Brett Murray, who had three RBI in Lima’s 5-4 win over Galion on Tuesday, drove in the Locos final run of the evening on Wednesday when he slapped a double that allowed Colin Stolly to cross home plate and run the score to 9-0.

The Graders (4-9) found life in their bats in the seventh inning, scoring six runs to pull to within three. Mark Delas and Zach DeThomasis opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Brody Basilone’s one-out basehit drove in Delas with Galion’s first run.

Mark Walton and Kevin Shrock each had a RBI single and Nicholas Riotto laced a run-scoring double to cut the deficit to 9-4. J.T. Core’s single with two out drove in both Shrock and Riotto, leaving the Graders three runs behind, 9-6.

Galion pulled back another run in the eighth when Jake Krupar singled and scored on another basehit by Walton, cutting the Locos lead to 9-7.

Lima reliever Mitchell White retired Galion in order in the ninth with a fly ball and two ground-ball outs.

Travis Edgar (1-0) picked up the win for Lima, despite being roughed up by the Graders in the seventh. He gave up six runs on seven hits and recorded two strikeouts and two walks.

White was credited with the save for his scoreless inning of work.

For Lima, Carriger finished 4-for-5 and Logan went 2-for-4. Five other players each had one hit for the Locos.

Riotto, Basilone and Walton had two hits apiece for Galion.

The Graders head to Flat Rock, Mich., on Thursday to face the Lake Erie Monarchs. The Monarchs (5-10) are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Galion and Lake Erie will play again on Friday at Heise Park.

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