Mammoths Use Six-Run Eighth to Defeat Beavers 6-4
June 1st, 2017
By Steve Marowski
Westside Woolly Mammoths 6 vs. Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers 4
Utica — After being down 4-0 for the first eight innings, the Westside Woolly Mammoths exploded for six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a 6-4 victory over the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers.
Mammoths shortstop Jeff Smith was 2-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored, and Tyler McVicar was 1-4 with a home run and two RBI’s.
“That’s why baseball is so fun,” Mammoths Manager Shane McCatty said. “You can have a boring game for most of the night, and then you get a different look at a guy and you never know what can happen.”
Beavers starting pitcher Kevin Matthews dominated the Mammoths for the first five innings. He gave up just two hits, didn’t allow a run and struck out nine.
Cameron Mackenzie threw two shutout innings in relief for the Beavers.
In the eighth inning, the Mammoths rally started with an RBI single from Smith. With two outs, catcher Kyle Hamner hit a two-RBI single, and Kent Blackstone hit an RBI single of his own to tie the game at four.
Following Blackstone, first baseman Tyler McVicar hit a two-run home run to give the Mammoths a 6-4 lead.
“Four runs is a deficit, but our guys feel like they’re in the game no matter what, and that’s a good feeling to have,” McCatty added.
Beavers center fielder Gerard Hernandez was 1-4 with a home run and two RBI’s, and left fielder DonAndre Clark was 2-4 and scored a run. Clark is now batting .442 on the season.
Upcoming Games
Friday, June 2, Eastside Diamond Hoppers vs. Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers, 7:05 p.m. (Fireworks Friday/Meet the Beavers)
Saturday, June 3, Utica Unicorns vs. Westside Woolly Mammoths, 7:05 p.m. (World Famous ZOOperstars!/WCSX Classic Rock Saturday)
Sunday, June 4, Utica Unicorns vs. Eastside Diamond Hoppers, 1:35 p.m. (World Famous ZOOperstars!)
Standings
1. Utica Unicorns 6-4
2. Eastside Diamond Hoppers 6-5
3. Westside Woolly Mammoths 5-5
4. Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers 4-7