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Game of the Week: D3 Cleveland Spiders at Salt Lake Gulls
Avila, McCann Sink Salt Lake With Long Balls As Spiders Win 6-4
Judah Avila’s breakout season continued in a big way Thursday night as his two homers and 4 RBI proved decisive in Cleveland’s victory over Salt Lake. The game began badly for Cleveland and starter Dirk Oake, as Salt Lake opened up a 3-0 lead in the first, with Jerry Easter blasting a two run homer. But Oake settled down after the inning, and Cleveland went to work.
In the top of the fourth, a leadoff double by Justin McCann brought Avila to the plate for the second time, and he put a charge into an 0-1 pitch, rocking it 382 feet to left to bring Cleveland within one. In the sixth, it was McCann’s turn, as he hit his own two run shot scoring John Wisniewski. But Salt Lake tied it up in the bottom of the inning, as Ralph Keough singled and stole second, then advanced on a sacrifice fly before scoring on a Jerry Easter single. The Gulls brought starter Sam King back out for the eighth after he delivered a 1-2-3 seventh, and he got two ground outs before McCann singled in front of Avila. Once again, the Cleveland 3B delivered, this time going to the opposite field for the game’s fourth and final two run homer, this one proving a game winner. Closer Mark Blaize came in to put Salt Lake away in the ninth and secure Cleveland’s 25th win of the season.
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