Friday, July 20, 2012

Beverly - 7, Rockport - 6 (8 innings)

It took extra innings for Beverly to beat Rockport 7 to 6 in a back and forth game Friday night at Evans Field.  The first four batters of the game scored for Rockport as they took a 4 to 0 lead in the first inning off Beverly starter Frankie Messina.  Dan Greel had the big blow with a 2 run double.  Messina settled down after that throwing 4 scoreless innings before being relieved in the 6th.

Beverly cut the lead to 1 in the third inning when Paul Drinkwater cleared the bases with a two out 3 run double.  In the fourth inning Conor Walsh came through with a two out 2 run single to give Beverly a 5 to 4 lead.

Beverly held the lead into the bottom of the sixth when Rockport rallied on an error and two walks.  Runners scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball to give Rockport a 6 to 5 lead heading into the seventh inning.

John Boyle led off the seventh with a solo homer to center to tie the game for Beverly.  Josh Levesque came on in relief in the bottom half of the inning and kept Rockport from scoring despite hitting two batters in the inning sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth Levesque led off with a double but was thrown out trying to steal third.  With two out, Kevin Harutunian reached on an error before stealing second.  Jeff Barricelli's single scored Harutunian with the go ahead run.  Levesque pitched a scoreless eighth to preserve the win and give Levesque his 6th victory of the season.

Beverly's offense was led by Barricelli (3 for 5, 2B, RBI, R), Boyle (2 for 2, HR, 2B, RBI, 3R), Levesque (2 for 4, 3B, 2B), and Chirco (2 for 3, R).

Rockport's Tommy Robertson reached base three times on a single and two walks and scored a run out of the leadoff slot.