Matthew's Thursday game

Matthew’s Tigers lost their second straight heartbreaker Thursday evening, by a 5-4 score. Shaw Park broke a tie game in the bottom of the last inning, winning the game on a walk and error. It was the second straight time the Tigers lost in walk-off fashion.

Matthew had an OK game. He chased a ball down near the rightfield line and held the batter to a single.

The Shaw Park starting pitcher was inconsistent. In his first at bat Matthew working the count full, before striking out. Six of the other ten Tigers also struck out (two struck out twice, another three times).

On the bench he vowed to do better next time. Against the left-handed reliever, Matthew swung and missed the first two pitches. After laying off a pitch in the dirt, he made solid contact on the next pitch. Though his was thrown out at first, he moved the runner from second to third.

Down a run in the top of the third, Jessica led off with a walk. She stole second and third, but Marlon and Jalen struck out. Nate walked and stole second, then Tanner lined a single to right, driving in both runners.

Shaw Park reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning, but Mt. Paran tied the game on the fourth. Alex walked, then Brandt lined his second hit of the game into left-center. Both runners moved up a base on an error, then Randal poked a bunt down the third base line. As Alex rumbled home, the third-baseman threw wildly past first, allowing Brandt to score the tying run.

Brandt took the mound, and the leadoff batter reached on an error. The little lefty promptly picked the runner off first, by several steps. Brandt then struck out the next two batters.

In the top of the 5th the Tigers staged a two-out rally. Nate and Tanner singled, but Harrison’s short pop was caught by the first-basemen.

Brandt got the leadoff hitter in the 5th to ground back to him for the first out, but then walked the next batter on four pitches. The runner stole second. The next batter hit a sharp grounder than second-baseman Thomas couldn’t handle. As the ball rolled on into right field the runner rounded third and rambled home with the winning run.

Matthew’s game Saturday has been cancelled, but Will plays at 11 am.