Escape artist
Wes Rich pitched himself into a jam in the eighth inning, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.
Rich allowed a pair of singles to open the inning, retired the next three batters to escape any damage, then allowed a single run in the ninth to preserve Butler's 8-7 victory over the Chillicothe Paints in Prospect League baseball play Wednesday night at Pullman Park.
“I coached Wes last summer in the North Woods League,” said Butler coach Brandon Whitfield, filling in for manager Anthony Rebyanski, who had to sit out the game because of his ejection in Monday's loss to Slippery Rock.
“He's growing a lot as a pitcher, but in his mind as well. He can give up two or three hits, then come back. He went out and competed.”
Butler (1-1) had an 8-5 lead before Bobby Donato had opened the sixth inning with a triple and scored on a fielder's choice off Corey Young.
Two innings later, with Rich in the game, Justin Trent singled and Donato followed with a single. Both runners advanced when the throw went to third base.
Rich, however, got Trevor Stevens to ground out to third, which forced the runners to hold, then Drew Dosch popped out and Steve Anderson grounded out to Rich.
In the ninth, Paul Snieder hit a leadoff double, then one out later scored on an RBI single by Ian Nielsen, but Brad Clement flied out and Andrew Ciennik struck out to end the game.
Butler's hitting did all of its damage in two innings, plating three runs in the second and five more in the fifth inning.
After Nielsen's solo blast in the second inning gave the Paints (0-2) an early 1-0 lead, the BlueSox received an RBI single by Jon Danielczyk, then saw two more runs score on errors.
Chillicothe responded with a three-spot of its own — a sacrifice fly by Anderson, an RBI double by Suerdick and a run on a fielder's choice — and an Anderson RBI single in the fourth inning made it a 5-3 Chillicothe lead.
Butler would take the lead for good in the fifth when Matt Berezo lined a leadoff double, Jason Radwan walked and Shayne Houck had a run-scoring single.
One out later, Radwan and Houck had a double steal before Colin Harrington had an RBI single, then another run scored when Harrington got caught in a rundown and Houck broke for home and scored.
Chris Rasky then lined an RBI single and another run would score on a delayed steal.
“I think a lot of these guys are getting more comfortable in what they're seeing,” said Whitfield. “I tell them, ‘Relax and hit what you're seeing. Take your swings and the guy on the mound can't beat you.”
Notes: Five BlueSox players will compete in next Wednesday's All-Star Game in Beckley, W.Va.: Berezo (shortstop), Radwan (second base) and Houck (third base) — the top three hitters in the lineup — as well as starting pitcher Brad Duffy and reliever Julian Diaz.
Chillicothe 013 101 001 — 7 12 2Butler 030 050 00x — 8 9 1W: Corey Young 3 IP (1K, 2BB).
L: Ryan Robertson 4.1 IP (3K, 2BB).
Chillicothe (0-2): Trevor Stevens 2-1B, RBI; Drew Dosch 1B; Steven Anderson 1B, 2 RBI; Paul Snieder 1B, 2B; Brian Suerdick 2B, RBI; Ian Nielsen 1B, HR, 2 RBI; Brad Clement RBI; Justin Trent 1B; Bobby Donato 1B, 3B
Butler (1-1): Matt Berezo 2B; Shayne Houck 2-1B, RBI; Colin Harrington 1B, 2B, RBI; Chris Rasky 2B, RBI; Stephen Vranka 1B; Jon Danielczyk 1B, RBI; Bret Basilone 1B
Today: Butler at West Virginia Miners
