Pack Sweep Season Series With Cardinals, Injury Bug Bites Again

The Wolfpack kept the bats hot and the good times rolling in Game 2 of their season opening doubleheader with the Cardinals with a 10-5 victory to complete the sweep before some time off to regroup and rest.

Rookie Pat Kelley (1-0) made his first career start with the Wolfpack and impressed in his first FMBA action. His pitches showed life and he kept Cardinals hitters off balance for the duration of his start, which was shortened due to a self-imposed pitch count heading into the game. Kelley powered through 3.2 innings and didn't allow an earned run as he consistently generated groundballs and whiffs with his movement. He struck out four and didn't allow an extra base hit.

Wolfpack veteran Brent Suecroft provided 1.1 innings of quality relief, allowing no runs and only giving up a single hit while he bridged the gap to Game 2 closer Dirk Dembroski. Dembroski entered the game and did exaclt what a closer is asked to do, pound the strikezone, he three 67% of his pitches for strikes and allowed no earned runs while only giving up three singles over the two innings to close the game out and pick up his first save of the season.

Roly Diaz, Shaun Connor, and Curtis Smith contributed multiple hits in Game 2, but it was Diaz who showed the clutch gene by knocking in 3 more runs and jumping out to a team leading 6 RBI after only two games. Michael Goldade started in center field and struggled somewhat at the plate but was able to string together a couple of stolen bases to put him on pace to approach his franchise record of 23 steals in a season.

Unfortunately, the win did not come without a cost. Carlos Charmell exited early after coming up lame on a stolen base attempt in the 3rd inning. He left he field for further testing but early indications are that this will be an extended absence for the heavy hitting shortstop and will certainly leave a hole near the top of the Wolfpack lineup. The Pack are now likely moving forward without star centerfielder Blake Carruthers and Charmell for most if not all of the 2019 season.

The Wolfpack are back in action on May 23rd when they take on the Canadians before heading to Westlock, AB for their first cash tournament of the season May  25th-26th.