BATS USE 7-RUN THIRD TO DEFEAT ANGELS, 8-2, IN PLAYOFF OPENER

GRAYSLAKE — The Bats scored 7 runs in the third inning and played flawless defense while knocking off the Angels, 8-2, in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday morning at Behm Park.  With the score tied, 1-1, the Bats sent 11 batters to the plate in the third inning highlighted by a bases loaded double by winning pitcher John Eisenmenger (3-3).  The victory sends the Bats into the Semi-Final Round of the playoffs, a 2-out-of-3 series, against the second-place White Soxx.

After a scoreless first inning, the Angels scored a run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead.  The Bats came right back in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI ground out by Harry Mielke to knot the score at 1-1 and snapping a 10-inning scoring drought in the process. 

Eisenmenger retired the Angels in order in the third just before the Bats explosion in their half of the inning.  The rally started with a one-out single by manager Rich Skibski who was making his first appearance since May 23. He missed the last 10 games of the regular season due to an ankle injury before hitting safely in his first trip to the plate in the post-season. 

Earl Blankenship sent Skibski to third with a double and Greg Kaczmarek walked to load the bases for Tom Klauba.  Klauba hit a bouncer to second which scored Skibski giving the Bats a 2-1 lead.  The bases remained loaded, however, when the fielder’s choice throw was mishandled by the first baseman.  Eisenmenger then blasted a drive to the base of the left field wall for a bases-clearing double and a 5-1 lead.

The Bats extended their lead to 6-1 on an RBI single by Matt Weiss scoring Eisenmenger.  Mielke reached on a fielder’s choice followed by Jeff McClellan’s second hit of the game and a walk to Tom Paul to reload the bases for John Reincke.  Reincke’s ground ball to shortstop was thrown away allowing 2 more runs to score before he was tagged out trying to take second on the play.

Staked to an 8-1 lead Eisenmenger retired the first two Angel batters in the fourth before surrendering two singles and a hit batter to load the bases. A ground out to Kaczmarek at third ended the threat and maintained the Bats 7-run cushion.

The Bats failed to score any more runs, but Eisenmenger allowed only 1 run over the last four innings capped by a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to close out the 8-2 victory. Almost overlooked in the contest was the Bats third errorless effort of the season which included 12 ground ball outs and 5 infield pop ups.

The Bats next game is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Sunday, August 22 against the second-place White Soxx in the first game of a best 2-of-3 series. The Bats won 1 of the 3 regular season games against the White Soxx in 2021 and are 1-1 in post-season play against them.  The Bats won 4-3 in the 2005 championship game and lost 4-1 in the first round of 2008.

BATS DROPPINGS

Sunday’s playoff win was the Bats first post-season victory since 2013 when they defeated the Braves, 11-7, in 8 innings in the first round.  They had lost 7 straight playoff games in between …  In 2019 the Bats finished with a record of 2-14.  This season after 16 games the Bats record stands at 10-6, an 8-game turnaround.  There was no season in 2020 due to Covid …  The 10 wins is the most ever for a Bats team since moving up to the older division …  The Bats third inning was the 9th time this season they had scored 5 or more runs and the 8th time they had sent 10 or more batters to the plate …  The 2021 season has seen a slew of long-standing records fall by the wayside: Tom Klauba’s first inning single gave him 25 hits breaking the record of 24 held by Randy Harris in 2004 …  Matt Weiss picked up walk number 13 in the second inning to break Barry Rindner’s record of 12 walks set in 2004 … Third-inning doubles by Earl Blankenship and John Eisenmenger gave the Bats 31 two-baggers for the season breaking the old mark of 30 doubles set in 2004 …  The Bats have scored 141 runs breaking the old season-high mark of 138 runs established in 2004 …  Rich Skibski was credited with an assist from center field when he threw out a runner at third base on a perfect 15-hop throw to Greg Kaczmarek in the sixth inning.  It was the 5th outfield assist this season for the Bats.