JEN SCHMIDT/NEVADA APPEAL
Look at the error column in the linescore and you immediately know why Carson lost the series opener against Galena Thursday at Ron McNutt Field.
Carson made six errors which led to five unearned runs, and the offense managed just three hits off Eric Howsley. It all added up to an 8-2 Galena victory in a Sierra League baseball game.
Galena improved to 4-0 in league, while Carson dropped to 3-4. The teams continue the three-game series at 3:30 p.m. today with Galena's Jace Puckett opposing Carson's David Charles.
"I told the kids that we can't extend innings," Carson coach Cody Farnworth said. "You can't make six errors, especially against a team like Galena, and expect to win."
Galena nicked Carson starter Colby Blueberg for three first-inning runs thanks to two errors.
Winning pitcher Howsley walked and then moved to third on a single by Daniel Ferguson. Howsley scored when catcher Cameron Mayville's pickoff throw sailed over the head of third baseman Brock Pradere into left field. Ferguson came around to score on a single by Garrett Shutt, who scored on a throwing error by Nick Domitrovich.
Carson cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Blake Plattsmier reached on an error by shortstop Alex Barajas and came around to score when Blueberg stole second and the ball went into centerfield.
Galena made it 4-1 in the fourth when Dustin Granata blooped a single just over first base to score Jeremy Rosenthal, who had reached on an error. The Grizzlies actually ran themselves out of a potential big inning when Tony Guidara, thinking he'd been retired at second base, walked off the base and was tagged out.
The Grizzlies broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four times thanks to three errors, including a costly two-run miscue by Dylan Sawyers. Blueberg was lifted with one out in favor of Drew Moreland, who gave up a hit and sacrifice fly before finishing the inning.
"I thought he (Blueberg) threw well," Carson pitching coach Scott Albin said. "They didn't hit any balls hard. He competed and kept us close without his curveball. It was flat instead of the big breaker he normally throws. For not having his best stuff, I thought he threw well."
McNutt admitted that taking advantage of the errors was critical to getting the win.
"That's what you have to do," Galena coach Ron McNutt said. "They're a young club, and young kids are going to make mistakes. If we are going to be the type of team I think we can be, we need to take advantage of those mistakes. They are going to get better. They are going to be a good club."
Carson managed just two runs on three hits. Other than the second and sixth when Carson scored, the Senators only got a runner into scoring position once, and that was in the seventh.
Austin Pacheco collected two of Carson's three hits, while Blueberg got the other.
"He (Howsley) did a good job," McNutt said. "He threw 84 pitches going into last inning. If he'd been in the high 90s or into the 100s we would have taken him out."