Blue Sox win 18-5 to extend unbeaten record; other results: Lightning 8, Tigers 1, Express 14, Pioneers 2.
By SHLOMO SPRUNGjp.services1(photo credit: )
There were 618 fans at Gezer Field on Thursday. At least one team showed up to play.
A combination of DH Gregg Reymundo's bat and the sloppy defense of the Miracle helped the Blue Sox to an 18-5 victory, extending its unbeaten record.
Modi'in got off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI-single by Eladio Rodriguez and an error that allowed the second run to come across.
Beit Shemesh quickly tied the score on a two-run homer by Reymundo, who ended up with two home runs and five runs driven in.
Reymundo expressed gratitude for the chance to play in the IBL.
"I'd like to thank the Lord for the opportunity. This is a wonderful place to be," he said after the game. "It's quite the experience to meet all kinds of different people."
Rafael Bergstrom (3-0) got the win in relief for Beit Shemesh, and starter Ian Okorofsky (0-1) was saddled with the loss.
This was Blue Sox manager Ron Blomberg's last game as manager for a while, as he's going to the United States for three weeks.
"I love my guys, I love the league, I love the people here. I'm just happy to bring baseball to Israel," Blomberg said.
Lightning 8, Tigers 1
The Tel Aviv Lightning won their fourth straight game, defeating the Netanya Tigers 8-1 at Gezer and improving to 6-2 for the season.
The Lightning broke the game open in the top of the sixth, batting around the order and scoring five runs off Netanya pitcher Rafael Rajono.
Adam Kopiec delivered the key blow, a double with the bases loaded, knocking in three runs.
Tel Aviv pitcher Daniel Kaufman, playing with his parents from Atanta in attendance, allowed only one Netanya run and did not walk a batter.
Tel Aviv native Orr Gottlieb contributed to the Lightning victory with a pinch-hit RBI single.
Express 14, Pioneers 2
In the second game at Yarkon Field, the Ra'anana Express topped the Petah Tikva Pioneers 14-2, dropping manager Ken Holtzman's last-place club to 1-8.
Express first baseman Scott Feller of Boca Raton, Florida, had a monster game, going 5-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Australian John Thew pitched a solid complete game, giving up five hits and two runs while striking out three batters to earn his first IBL victory.
All of today's games will start at 10 a.m., and Sportek Field in Tel Aviv is on scheduled to open on Sunday.
Zev Roth contributed to this report.
