Larks slop out a win
By RANDY GONZALES
The uniforms were nicely tucked in.
Just about everything else was sloppy in the Hays Larks' 10-7 win over the Dodge City Athetics on Tuesday night at Larks Park.
Hays committed seven errors -- one on a simple return throw back to the mound after a pitch -- and allowed Dodge City to rally late, getting the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning.
Still, the Larks found a way to win to improve to 15-8 overall and remain in second place in the Jayhawk League at 11-5. Dodge City dropped to 8-13 overall and 5-11 in league play.
"Very sloppy," Hays manager Frank Leo said. "We've got to clean up defensively."
Hays starter Edwin Carl got through five innings to pick up the victory.
Carl (2-1) allowed four runs -- one earned -- on seven hits, with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
"Eddie wasn't as good as he has been," Leo said. "He settled. When you make errors, you've got to buckle down. As a pitcher, you've got to try to take care of business."
Dusty Washburn and Brandon Eckerle took care of the offense. Washburn hit a single, double and home run, drove in three runs and scored two. Washburn hit an RBI double to cap a three-run first inning, singled and scored in the third and hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Larks a 9-3 lead.
"Dusty's been swinging a little bit better," Leo said. "His home run was big, gives us a little bit of a cushion."
Eckerle hit three singles, stole two bases, scored three runs and drove in one.
"Eckerle does a nice job in the leadoff spot." Leo said.
Jordan Beistline took over for Carl to start the sixth, but allowed two runs before being replaced by Tyler Sturdevant, who got the final out of the inning.
Sturdevant allowed a run in the eighth, and Dodge City had the tying run at the plate, but Sturdevant struck out Chris Ciesla to end the threat.
Chase Johnson worked a 1-2-3 ninth, with two strikeouts, to earn the save.
Dodge City starter Blake Thomas allowed nine runs -- seven earned -- on 11 hits in 3Ôªø2âÑ3 innings to take the loss.
Hays will play at Dodge City at 7 tonight, the opener of a six-game road trip. Right-hander Casey Hauptman (2-0) is the Larks' probable starter.
After today's game, Hays will play a three-game series at league-leading Derby on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Larks Notes
Hays' rainout at El Dorado last weekend will be made up July 12 in Hays as part of a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m. ... Larks pitcher Patrick Cooper had his parents visiting from Kentucky. His mother won the half and half, good for $93. ... In the Larks' third, Hays batter Eric Roof slapped a hard grounder foul down the first-base line, fielded cleanly by first-base coach Keith Harper. Moments later, Roof hit an easy grounder toward Leo in the third-base coaches' box, which the Larks' manager let go through his legs. A glove went flying toward Leo from the dugout, and he put it on, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.
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