The Hamilton Generals (5-6) handed the Rowley Rams (12-1-1) their first loss of the season Wednesday night at Erias Field by a score of 6-3 in nine innings. The game featured an outstanding pitching duel between Rowley's ace Nick Liguori and Hamilton's Matt Greeke. Liguori went the full nine for Rowley while Greeke pitched seven for Hamilton in his ITL debut. Connor Sullivan notched the win for Hamilton pitching two scoreless innings of relief while Ligouri was the tough luck loser. Jim Maloney delivered the big blow for Hamilton with a solo-HR to centerfield leading off the top of 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie.
Rowley led 3-2 after five innings thanks to poor defense on both sides that accounted in all the game's runs being unearned to that point. In the sixth, Justin Tilley tied the game for Hamilton with a RBI double to right-center, but the go-ahead run was cut down at the plate thanks for a nice relay executed by the Rams. Ligouri and Greeke held the bats scoreless in the seventh and the game headed to extra innings.
Ligouri and Sullivan shut down the offenses in the 8th and the umpires allowed the teams to play a second extra inning with the sun going down. In the 9th, Maloney gave the Generals the lead with his HR, while the Generals would score two more later in the inning on RBI singles by Mark Ruggerio and Jim Love. Sullivan closed out the game for Hamilton, giving the Generals a big victory by putting an end of their three game losing streak.
Barba led the way offensively for the Rams with two hits. Mark Ruggerio was the offensive standout for Hamilton going 4-for-5 while Maloney, Bryan Vitale and Tilley each contributed multi-hit games. Ligouri notched 11 strikeouts in his effort while Greeke did not allow an earned run and fanned five Rams. The two teams meet again Thursday night for a rematch at Patton Park.
