Beast of the East Game 2: Canes 7, Dirtbags 5

In the best game of the spring so far (reminder: I have only seen two games this spring), the Canes came back from an early deficit to beat the Dirtbags, 7-5.

The game had a little bit of everything. After a fluky three-run first inning, the Canes locked in on the mound, and allowed just one runner past second base in the next four innings.

Offensively, the Canes were not as potent as last night, but still managed seven hits, and were dynamic on the bases. They stole seven bases in five offensive innings and, as Coach Kevin correctly pointed out, several times took "double bases," which is an advanced statistical category invented by Tony LaRussa. It's too complicated to explain to you, so don't ask.

But it was defensively where the two teams separated themselves. The Canes took advantage of four errors, and converted them into four unearned runs. Meanwhile, the home team played an error-free game, had two double plays, and picked two runners off base.

The win moves the Canes to 2-0 in pool play, meaning it's time to sit around and wait for the seedings. The next game could be either tonight or tomorrow morning, but don't worry, there's still time for a Tony's milkshake.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

Second inning

Andrew smacked a one-out single. Bryce ripped it through second. Both runners stole a bag. JT singled home a pair.
Score after two innings: Dirtbags 3, Canes 2

Third inning

Gavin cracked a bullet through second and went all the way to third on an error. Chace singled in Gavin, then stole second and third. Asher's two-out single scored him.

Score after two innings: Canes 4, Dirtbags 3

Fifth inning
Jake worked a one-out walk and stole second. Gavin singled him home and raced all the way around to score when the ball was mishandled. Drew cranked a two-out solo homer.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Dirtbags 4

Pitching Performances

Great work on the mound from a series of pitchers. Andrew went the first two and retired the last four men he faced. Colin worked the middle two and struck out the final two he missed. Asher struck out a pair in the fifth. Chace closed it out in the sixth.

Dugout wisdom
After Asher picked a runner off first in the fifth, Chace was being congratulated for a nice tag at first. Soon, he will learn the necessary adult skill of taking complete credit for things even when it was a happy accident. For now, though, he said, "Asher totally faked me out too. I was coming off the bag and all of a sudden the ball was there and luckily I caught it."

Also, there was this observation from Gavin: "Have you ever noticed that when the top of our order isn't hitting, the bottom always comes through? And when the top of the order is hitting, the bottom of the order hits, too. So basically, the bottom of the order always hits." 

Game 2 Web Gems

• Bryce made a beautiful sprawling catch on the line in left field in the first inning with the bases loaded.
• Andrew showed good presence of mind in the first, as the runner broke off first to try and coax a balk. No problem--Andrew just stepped off and fired to Gavin at second to end the inning.
• Colin, Gavin and Chace teamed up on a textbook 1-6-3 double play in the third.
• JT ended the game in the sixth. With runners on first and third and one out, he speared a line drive to third, then beat the runner back to the bag for the double play.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Dirtbags	3	0	0	1	0	1	5	7
Canes	0	2	2	0	3	X	7	7