The Chillicothe Mudcats went into Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph on Friday night looking to avoid their second 0-4 start in 23 seasons. With 11 hits, the first-place Mustangs defeated them 11-4.
The Mustangs came into the night averaging eight runs per game, and wasted no time in opening the scoring. After Mudcats pitcher Tanner Sears retired the first two batters of the first inning, a string of four straight Mustangs reached base. It came on two walks and two singles, the second hit made it 2-0 St. Joseph.
After being given an early lead, Mustangs starting lefty hurler Aron Harrington found a groove. He struck out three in a row after a walk in the first, worked around a single in the second, and retired the Mudcats in order in the third. By the end of his 80 pitches, Harrington posted five scoreless frames allowing just two hits.
It was toward the end of his start that the Mustangs offense really came to life. Bringing nine men to the plate in the fourth, they plated four runs on four hits including a home run. Three more runs in the fifth made it 9-0 St. Joseph.
The Mudcats did respond with three runs in the sixth. As was the case Thursday in Sedalia, Chillicothe jumped on the first man out of the bullpen. They ripped off three straight hits before an out, including the team’s first home run of the season off the bat of Tanner Sears.
St. Joseph brought in a different reliever the next inning, Andrew Clark, who held Chillicothe to one run over the final three innings. The 11-4 loss brought a number of season highs. Their four runs scored, and five stolen bases were both summer bests. They also used a season-high six pitchers, who issued a combined nine walks.
Chillicothe is now the lone winless team in the M.I.N.K., and will return home Saturday night for a game against the Sedalia Bombers.
Winning Pitcher: Aron Harrington (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tanner Sears (0-1)
Save: Andrew Clark (1)
Time of Game: 3:16
