The Red Birds had a victory over the division leading Belle Plaine Tigers in their sights on Sunday evening, but let it slip from view in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings.   The Tigers won the game in the bottom of the 10th with a bases loaded walk to Tiger All-star, Dan Huber to complete a come-from-behind victory that preserved their spot on top of the division and guarantees them a #1 seed in the RVL playoffs.

The Red Birds got the scoring started in the first inning with a BB to RF Tony Marengo.  Marengo then scored on a two out double to left by DH Cary McLaughlin.  With C Zach Swenson batting, two wild pitches by Tiger starter Shane Hoffman brought McLaughlin in for the second score of the inning. 2-0 Red Birds. 

Red Birds All-Star, and starter Casey Malmgren got an easy 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Tigers opened their half of the second with a single by SS Brad Lawson, first of 3 hits by the Lawson.  LF Shawn Larson then hit a sharp grounder back to Malmgren who started a nifty 1-4-3 double play to erase Lawson's hit.

Red Birds continued their offense in the 3rd inning with a one out double by McLaughlin down the right field line.  Zach Swenson reached on an infield grounder and wild throw to first by SS Lawson that allowed McLaughlin to score from 2nd base.   Red Bird All-Star Justin Thompson reached on a fielder's choice grounder and Swenson scored on the wild throw to first base.

Red Bird first baseman, Justin Kurth then hit a double to right that scored Thompson for the third run of the inning. two groundouts ended the inning with Kurth left on third base.

In the bottom of the 3rd, LF Jim Buesgens led off with a single to center for the Tigers.  Malmgren then sturck out DH James Harsh and RF Tyler Hartman.  CF Travis Latzke then reached first on a soft grounder to second baseman, T.J. Gulden that took a crazy hop and bounced off his chest.  C Matt Schultz then hit a single to right that loaded the bases with two outs.  Dan Huber then hit a grounder to Thommpson at shortstop that he flipped to T.J Gulden for the force at 2nd and the Red Birds kept their 5-0 lead after 3 innings.

In the bottom of the 4th, Brad Lawson led off with a single to right field and moved to second on a single up the middle by LF Shawn Larson.  First baseman Adam Johnson then lined a single to right field that scored Lawson from 2nd.  With men on 1st and 2nd with nobody out, Malmgren struck out Buesgens swinging and then Harsh lined sharply to Kurth at 1st base who easily doubled Johnson off for the inning ending double play and the Red Birds led, 5-1.

In the top of the 5th, Thompson hit a one out double to center field.  With Kurth batting, Hoffman thew a WP that reached the backstop and Thompson tried to advance, but C Schultz retrieved the ball quickly and nailed Thompson in a close play at third for the second out that proved costly for the Red Birds.  Kurth then walked and LF Tom Bergner lined a single to center that would have scored Thompson easily.  And TJ Gulden hit a sharp grounder to third for an unassisted force of Kurth to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 5th, RF Hartmann led off with a single to center.  Latzke then lined a single to right that allowed Hartmann on the hit-and-run play to reach third easily.  Schultz grounded out short to first, and Hartman couldn't advance.  Huber then hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Hartmann from third.  With two outs, Brad Lowson doubled off the left field wall ofr his third hit and drove in Latzke from first.   Shawn Larson grounded out to Malmgren to end the inning.  5-3 Red Birds.

In the top of the 6th, Marengo reached on a fielding error by Buesgens at second.  With 1 out, 3B John Gulden lined a sharp grounder to short, and beat the throw for a hit, but the throw got away from 1B Johnson and the speedy Marengo moved to third base.  Reid Teigland replaced Gulden as pinch runner at first.  With Red Birds at the corners, Tiger P Shane Hoffman then bluffed a throw to third and nearly caught Teigland off first with a quick throw.    Hoffman then got Teigland leaning the wrong way and picked him off first for the second out of the inning.  McLaughlin then launched a fly ball to left field for the third out that would have easily scored Marengo with a sacrifice, but the Tigers dodged a significant bullet with the pickoff at first.

Malmgren then pitched scoreless ininngs in the 6th and 7th, and the Red Birds still had the lead at 5-3 entering the 8th inning.  In the bottom of the 8th, Pinch hitter Mia Fogarty led off with a soft liner to Gulden at 2nd for the first out.  Then Adam Johnson lifted a fly to deep right center that got caught in the vines on the right field wall for a ground rule double.  Buesgens popped to third, but with two outs, PH Ryan Diers lined a single to right that scored Johnson to leave the Tigers one run back after 8 innings.

Justin Thompson took the mound in relief of Malmgren in the bottom of the ninth to face the top of the Tiger batting order.  Travis Latzke drew a walk and stole second on the ensuing pitch to C Matt Schultze.  Schulze then singled to left putting Latzke at third, and then stole second on defensive indifference.  Red Birds then issued an intentional walk to Lawson to load the bases with one out.  Fogarty then lifted a sacrifice fly to center that easily plated Latzke for the tying run.   An easy bouncer back to Thompson by Johnson ended regulation with the game tied at 5. 

In the 10th, Tom Bergner reached first with one out on catcher's interference.  TJ Gulden hit a grounder to third and was out on a fielder's choice, but smart base running by Bergner and he didn't stop at second noticing that the third baseman couldn't get back to the bag, and Bergner reached third with two outs.  Jeff Pavlovich then hit a fly ball to right field that was easily caught for the third out to snuff the scoring chance for the Red Birds.

In the bottom of the 10th, Buesgens lined quickly to Gulden at second for the first out.  Diers then drew a walk. Tyler Hartman hit a sharp single to right that moved Diers to third.  Red Birds then walked Latzke to load the bases and get a force at any base.  C Matt Schultz bounced one sharply to Gulden at 2nd and a quick throw home got Diers at the plate for the second out.  It looked like the Red birds would escape to move to the 11th, but All Star Dan Huber worked the count full and the payoff pitch from Thompson missed outside to force Hartmann to the plate with the winning run.

Hartmann and Lawson each had three hits for the Tigers.  Latzke and Hartmann each scored twice and Dan Huber had two RBI's.  Josh Terrio relieved Hoffmann in the 9th inning to earn the victory.  Shane Hoffman pitched a solid 4th - 8th inning allowing no additional runs, while striking out 5 and allowing only 2 walks and 1 hit batter.  Tigers left 13 runner stranded, including 6 left in scoring position.

Cary McLaughlin had two doubles, an RBI and scored twice for the Red Birds.  Kurth and Thompson each had a double and single and one RBI a piece.  Malmgren worked 8 innings getting 3 strikeouts and issuning only 1 walk.   Thompson took the loss allwoing just two hits, two runs, and 5 walks (2 intentional passes) in the two innings of relief.   The Red Birds left 11 men on base, 5 in scoring position including 4 at third base. 

Next game for the Red Birds is Wednesday, July 13th, at Storm Red Bird Stadium for a division game with the Henderson Tigers.  It's Klein Bank Night and Season Ticket Holder Premium night.   This will be a must win for the Red Birds as they fight for seeding in the Divisional Playoffs which begin the week of July 18th.

# # # #