Game 2 Gut Punch: Red Springs Drops Lead, Series Tied 1–1
Robbins Stadium | Saturday, August 2
The Tobacco State League quarterfinals just got spicy. A raucous Red Springs crowd of 5,494 watched in stunned silence as the Smithfield-Selma Leafs mounted a late rally to steal Game 2, 4–2, and tie the series at one apiece.
Starter
Luke Restivo had the Robins cruising with a 2–0 lead into the 8th. He went 7 strong innings, scattering 7 hits and striking out 4 on 100 pitches. But the bullpen unraveled, giving up 4 runs over the final two innings.
Smithfield-Selma’s
Tom Ferrara earned Player of the Game honors with 7 innings of two-run ball, and fan-favorite
Ricky Diego drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th on a clutch bases-loaded walk.
“Winning the game is always the first objective,” Ferrara said postgame. “Tonight was just about grinding.”
Robins Bullpen Meltdown — Again
Red Springs relievers Bob Hoyle, Pat Roles, and Dane O’Farrell faced 11 total batters and allowed 4 hits, 3 walks, and 2 earned runs. The inherited runner disaster? Three of four inherited runners scored. Managerial headache: confirmed.
By The Numbers- Luke Restivo: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K — 100 pitches
- Ken Rogers: 2-run HR in the 6th, his first of the postseason
- Steve Bowser & Chris Wreede: Each went 1-for-4
- Red Springs LOB: just 3 — missed chances
- R. Diego: 2-for-4, 2 RBI including the game-winner
- T. Ferrara: 7.0 IP, 1 HR allowed, just 1 walk
- J. Cervantes: perfect 2-inning save — 6 batters up, 6 down
- Leafs: 11 hits, 3 doubles, 3 walks
Chase Murphy’s Notebook
"This place was loud until it wasn’t. Restivo was brilliant, the bullpen was brittle, and now we’re heading to Legion Park in Smithfield for a pivotal Game 3. Let’s be honest — if the Red Robins don’t come out swinging Monday, this dream season might be on the brink."
Tobacco State League | Playoff Scoreboard | Best of 5
Smithfield-Selma 4, Red Springs 2 - Series tied 1-1
Angier-Fuquay Springs 5, Whiteville 4 - Angier-FS leads 2-0 (wow, can the No. 10 sweep the No. 2 seed?)
Sanford 4, Clinton 1 - Sanford leads 2-0
Warsaw 5, Lumberton 3 - Series tied 1-1