Saturday, July 17, 2010
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Joe Davis (334) 323-2255 x363 |
Biscuits Win 14-Inning Classic
Two-run ninth sends game to extras, Matulia single wins it
KODAK, TN – The Biscuits rallied for a pair of two-out runs in the ninth to send the first of four against the Tennessee Smokies into extras, then used a John Matulia single to secure a 5-4 win in 14 innings Saturday at Smokies Park.
The 14 innings equals the longest game in franchise history, tying a 5-4 Biscuits win over Chattanooga at Riverwalk last June. The Biscuits are now a season-best 13 games above .500, and sit at 7-1 on the road in July.
Matulia’s game-winner was hit up the middle to score Matt Sweeney, who had reached on an error, and came against Ryan Buchter (7-1) who was yet to suffer a loss.
Nearly two hours before, it looked like the Biscuits night was coming to an end early. With the Smokies in front 4-2, Marcos Mateo struck out the first two Biscuits of the ninth inning. With a full count, Rashad Eldridge singled to right to keep the Biscuits’ hopes alive. Leslie Anderson then delivered a pinch-hit double to right-center to make it 4-3, and Matt Sweeney scored pinch-runner Drew Anderson with a single to left to tie things at 4-4.
Both teams had chances to end the game before the 14th. The Smokies loaded the bases against Heath Rollins in the bottom of the ninth, but Dane De La Rosa came on to strike out Matt Spencer to end the threat. The Biscuits’ best chance prior to the 14th came in the top of the tenth when they loaded the bases with nobody out, but Nevin Ashley fouled out and Henry Wrigley bounced into a double play.
The Biscuits scored first in the game, getting an RBI-single in the first from Rashad Eldridge. The Smokies answered in the fourth, scoring twice against Biscuits starter Jeremy Hall. Emeel Salem would homer to tie things at 2-2 in the sixth, but Marwin Gonzalez doubled home a pair in the seventh to make the ninth-inning rally necessary.
No Biscuit had more than two hits over 53 at-bats.
Both starters took no-decisions, with Jeremy Hall giving up four runs on ten hits over 6.2, and Tennessee’s Craig Muscko allowing a pair of runs on over six innings.
LHP Alex Torres will throw for the Biscuits on Sunday at 4:00 CT against Tennessee LHP Jeremy Papelbon.