Sox Tie A's, Stay Undefeated

WHEATON, MD--In a nerve-wracking game, Murphy's Green Sox Thursday night ran out of time and settled for a 6-6 tie with the A's when time expired after the 8th inning at Wheaton Regional Park.

Strong pitching-by-committee and rock-solid defense led the Sox. Stosh Fry started and threw the first 4 innings, hitting 3 batsmen and surrendering 2 runs while walking none. Scout relieved and surrendered 1 run over 2 innings. Connolly followed with his pitching debut and struggled to find the plate, walking 5. But the Sox defense and Connolly's 2 Ks held the A's to only 3 runs over the last 2 innings of the game.

Facing the Nasty Lohrmann, the Sox offense got started slowly. Ultimate hitter Carney broke up the no-hitter in the 3rd with a bunt single, extending his hitting streak to 2 games.

In the 4th, the Sox got on the board. Carlos Soto struck out swinging on a curveball in the dirt (his second three-pitch strikeout in as many at-bats), but hustled his sleek frame down to first when the ball bounced to the backstop. Lim ran for Soto, stole second, and advanced on a Connolly ground-out. When Lohrmann went 3-0 on Paulson, he grooved one. Paulson smacked it to left for an RBI single, Paulson's first of 2 RBIs on the night, ending the shutout.

The A's got that run back in the top of the 5th, stretching their lead to 3-1. Trevor Gray lead off the 5th by reaching on an error. Carney walked and Coyne wore one on his derriere, loading the bases. Lim hit a sac fly to center, and Gray made it 3-2.

Neither team scored in the 6th, but then the A's scored in the top of the 7th. The first 5 Sox walked in the bottom of 7, bringing in 3 runs, and putting the Sox ahead 5-4.

In the top of the 8th, the A's scored two quick runs and had two on with one out. Connolly got a fly out for out No. 2, and then Fry re-entered to get the inning-ending K.

With the time limit looming, Carney lead off the 8th and final inning with a walk, his third on the night. Coyne followed with a single. After a Lim strikeout, Soto hit a soft grounder to third, but the Shortstop threw it away, and Carney scored from second to tie the game at 6.

The Sox came within inches of a walk-off win when Coyne tried to score on a wild pitch, and in a super-close play was called out at home. Stockwell grounded out with the bases juiced to end the night.

The Sox's record remains at 2-0.

Sox Start `06 with a Sweep

WASHINGTON, DC--Murphy's Green Sox are now 2-0 after an Opening Day sweep of the Front Page Grays. Powered by pitching and a couple of big innings, the Sox took two on an overcast day at Banneker.

New acquistition Brian Coyne made the adjustment from Cavalier Red to Murphy's Green, opening the season with a leadoff double down the line and later scoring on a Carlos Soto sacrifice. The Sox's big inning in Game 1 was a 4-run 2nd, highlighted by a telepathic suicide squeeze in which Carney brought home Pauson.

The Grays tried to creep back, tightening things up to 5-2 before Ryan Lim in the top of the 7th scored the insurance run with a nasty slide into home after a Paulson bouncer to first base.

On the hill, Opening Day Ace Jim "Money Man" Hayes held the Grays to 1 earned run over 3 innings. Steve White relieved, and over 4 innings walked none, surrendered 1 hit, no runs, and struck out 5. In the 7th inning, with one out, Coyne made a diving stop at third, and made a perfect throw to first for the defensive play of the day.

Although game 2 also started with a Coyne single, after that it was a different story. Cory McEntee cruised for 4 shutout innings, striking out 7. Meanwhile the Sox piled it on, first with a 2-out, 2-run, 2-strike, 2nd-inning double to right by Steve White, and then with a long bottom of the 3rd, ending that inning ahead 9-0. In relief, Scout surrendered no walks and one hit over two innings. Former Green Sox pitcher Kyle Paulson came in and finished off the Grays, capping a rare Green Sox shutout.

The 2-0 Green Sox will face the A's Thursday night at Wheaton.

Sox vs. Newshounds Tonight

Tonight at eight o'clock, Murphy's Green Sox will take on the Falls Church News Hounds in more inter-division play. The News Hounds and the Sox have a history of tight games.

This is the Sox's first Tuesday night game of the year, and the the first of four games this week. Game is at Blair H.S., and players should show at 7.

Sox Come Back, Take Down Expos

Trailing 8-0 after the top of the second, Murphy's Green Sox mounted a furious comeback and knocked off the River Dogs/Expos 12-8 last Thursday night at Wheaton.

The Expos scored four in the first off of Mike Connolly, who struggled with history's smallest strike zone, and yielded a three-run home run. In the second, the Expos put up another four, off of Connolly and reliever Randy Sansom who made his Green Sox debut in less-than ideal circumstances. In the third, after the Sox got on the board in the second, Sansom shut down the Expos.

Powered by a three-run double by Connolly, a clutch two-out, two-RBI single by Stew Risher, and three-run performances for Steve White, Trevor Gray, and Tim Carney at the bottom of the order, the Sox scored 12 runs.

White put the clamp down on the Expos, holding them scoreless over four innings before the time limit hit, giving the Sox the victory.

Sox's Wheaton Finale Tonight

Murphy's Green Sox play their last scheduled game at Wheaton for the summer, tonight at 8 pm. Their four game winning streak is on the line against a formidable River Dogs squad. These two teams have played some memorable games over the years.

Mike Connolly will get the start. Players should be there at 7, if they can.

Sox Sweep Cards

Murphys Green Sox took two from their rival Cards, 15-2 and 4-3.

Jon Jay started the morning game, and gave up only one run through three innings. Carlos Soto ignited the Sox offense with a bases-loaded two-RBI single in the first, leading to a seven-run rally. Soto finished the game 3-for-3. Steve White mopped up with three stellar innings, as the Sox gonged their third straight opponent.

In the mid-day matchup, Green Sox defense let down starter Jim Hayes by yielding two unearned runs in the first. Murphy's climbed back slowly, and took a 3-2 lead going into the sixth.

A bizarre bullpen waltz of McEntee and Fry ended up yielding a run in the sixth, but shutting the Cards down in the seventh. In the bottom of the last inning, Matt Pearsall got a one-out infield single, followed by a Kyle Paulson double. Pearsall held at third, and the Cards intentionally walked Soto. Stew Risher promptly lined a game-winning walk-off single past third, scoring Pearsall and giving the Sox their fourth straight win.

Sox Hit the Gong Twice

On two consecutive Thursdays, Murphy's Green Sox sent their opponents home early, leading by 12 after 7 innings.

On May 12, the Sox battled back from a 3-0 deficit to trounce the Senators 22-4. Jon Jay settled down after a rough first inning and pitched two goose eggs. Stosh Fry followed with three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, and breaking four bats. Steve White mopped up in the 7th inning, and got his first hit. Tim Carney was the only Sox to not reach base.

On May 19, the Sox stuck it to the Falls Church Red Barons. Mike Connolly, apparently enhanced by a kidney stone lodged in his howdyasay, pitched a masterful four innings, and collected three hits. Pete Battikha relieved, and Jeremy "Scout" Stockwell pitched a 1-2-3 7th to seal the deal.

The Sox are now 2-1.

Sox to Battle Other Senators Thursday Night

On Thursday night at Wheaton Regional Park, Murphy's Green Sox will try to pick up their first win of the season. The Sox face the senior Senators from Arlington, one of the oldest teams in the league.

With a gash in his leg (see below), Sox starting catcher Dad will miss the game.

First pitch is at 8 pm, players should show at 7. This field is notoriously a pain to get to. Directions here.