Association Championships - Game 3
Story and Box Score
Fusion Fuels Swatters Win, Take 2-1 Lead
With starter Tim Fusion leading the charge, the Diamond City Swatters defeated the Goodneighbor Hancocks, 3-2, in Game 3 of the Association Championships today. The left-hander (3-0 in the postseason) threw 7 innings allowing 2 runs at The Great Green Jewel to help Diamond City take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Fusion led the game 1-0 going into the 7th inning, but then some hell broke loose. Goodneighbor finally got on the board thanks to Fusion starting to tire. Zachary Utsinger led off the inning with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Fusion then walked Jason Juras. After Splotch Pollack's bunt attempt resulted in a 3-5 fielder's choice, pinch hitter Tyler Jelinski singled to load the bases with one out. Good Don Duck then hit an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Burtie Cuttooth followed with a sacrifice fly to score Pollock for the 2-1 lead.
Fearing the same may happen to starter Matt Pageturner, Goodneighbor manager Jeremy Whiteplate replaced him with Bryan Punchline who proved to be the joke. Tyler Ross led off with a single. With one out, Nick Minnier singled. Jim Synthseeker then reached on a fielder's choice, placing runners at first and third with two outs. Witcher Craft then came through with an RBI single to tie the game, 2-2. Allen Bishop then delivered a key base hit with two down and runners on first and second, scoring Synthseeker. That made the score 3-2, the final, in favor of the Swatters.
"We squandered some opportunities," said Whiteplate. "This is a game we had a chance to win and needed to win. We need to put this series back in our favor to make it back home."
The game was definitely a pitcher's affair. Diamond City's Wally Warwick's 2nd-inning double proved to be the game's only extra-base hit. He later scored the game's first run on an RBI fielder's choice by Danny Suarez.
"This was a game I had to be on every inning," Fusion said. "I had a bad 7th, but our bats got it done when we needed it most. Hats off to Allen and the gang."
The next game is scheduled for tomorrow. Slated to start are Quincy Eloquent for Goodneighbor and X10-44 Mannson for Diamond City.
Game MVP
