Published: July 03, 2009 10:48 pm      

Fireworks

Big crowd witnesses Oriole win

BLUEFIELD — Jesse Beal tossed two-hit ball over seven innings, and Joel Polanco smacked a thre-run home run to lead the Bluefield Oroles to a 4-2 win over the Pulaski Mariners before 2,795 fans anxiously awaiting fireworks on Friday night at Bowen Field.

The Baby Birds put three on the board in the0 bottom of the first with a two-out rally. Mike Planeta reached on an error, Mike Flacco singled to center and Polonco deposted a Nolan Diaz pitch over the left field wall to give the Birds an early 3-0 lead.

Beal was stellar on the mound, as he set down the first eight Pulaski batters, four via strkeouts.

Pulaski got their first hit with two out in the third inning. The visitors scored in the fourth when Branden Haveman doubled and eventally scored on a ground out.

The Orioles set down the Mariners in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Along the way, Bluefield catcher Dashenko Ricardo gunned down two Pulaski baserunners attempting to steal at second base.

Bluefield added a run in its half of the seventh off two Pulaski pitcher Eric Valdes. Corey Thomas tripled down the left field line and scored on Ricardo’s single to left.

Samuel Taveras came on in relief in the top of the eighth. The Mariners rallied with two outs, loading the bases on two walks and an error. A run scord on a walk to make it 4-2 before Taveras caught Mark McGonigle looking to end the inning.

Josh Dowdy came on to close things out for Bluefield in the ninth. Pulaski mounted another rally and got two on board, but a line-out double play ended the game.

Gary Helmick had three hits for the Baby Birds, while Polanco knocked in three. Beal picked up the win, Diaz was tagged with the loss, and Dowdy earned a save.

Bluefield will travel to Pulaski today for a 4 p.m. contest at Calfee Park.

The Orioles return to Bowen Field on Sunday with a 4 p.m. opener of a three-game series with the Burlington Royals.



at Bowen Field

Pulaski.................000 100 010 — 2 6 1

Bluefield................300 000 100 — 4 8 2

Diaz, Valdes (7) and Bantz. Beal, Taveras (8), Dowdy (9) and Ricardo. W—Deal (2-1); L—Diaz (0-2); S—Dowdy (2). HR—Polanco (1, 1st, 2 on). Att—2,975.