June 13 --  The Redbirds traveled to Arlington Ball Park to face the River Valley League, West Division leading Arlington A's and squeaked out a 2 - 1 victory in 12 innings on Sunday night.

Line Score:

Chanhassen     000  000  001  001  -  2  12  1

Arlington         000  010  000  000  -  1   9   1

LOB -- Chan (10)  Arl (14)

After tying the game at 1 - 1 in the top of the 9th inning to go to extra innings for the second game in a row, Red Birds left fielder, Tony Marengo led off the top of the 12th inning with a single to center.  He then stole second and advanced to 3rd as the throw skipped into short centerfield.   A's reliever, Mike Spirling, then got two strikeouts.  Casey Malmgren delivered the game winning RBI with a single to right field that scored Marengo from third.  Adam Heitz singled to left field to get Malmgren to 3rd base, but Jeff Pavlovich flied to right to end the top half of the 12th with the Red Birds clinging to the 1 run lead.

Luke Penovich took the mound in relief of Zach Neubauer, who had allowed just one hit in the scoreless 10th and 11th innings.   Penovich quickly got the first two batters on a pop out and a ground out to 1st baseman, Nick Brenner.  

Then Joe Lucas, recently drafted by the Atlanta Braves, got a single to center that was followed by two walks to load the bases.  The A's catcher, Nate Hartman, then grounded a ball between 1st and 2nd base, and Luke Penovich quickly covered 1st base for the throw from John Gulden to end the threat and preserve the victory for Neubauer.

The Red Birds moved to 4 - 1 in league play and hold on to 1st place in the Central Division.  The Arlington A's dropped to 5 - 2 in League play but still hold 1st place in the West Division of the RVL.

Arlington scored first in the bottom of the 5th inning when A's left fielder, Shane Henke walked and took second on a wild pitch, then Center Fielder, Craig Dose, doubled to left center to drive in the only run for the A's.  Casey Malmgren kept the game close by scattering a total of 7 hits through the 9 innings that he pitched, never allowing a runner beyond 2nd base the rest of the way.

Arlington got two singles in the bottom of the first inning, but catcher Adam Heitz threw out both runners as each attempted to steal second base.  On target throws by Heitz in the first inning deterred any other A's from even attempting another stolen base the rest of the game.

Arlington's Starting pitcher, Joe Lucas, Atlanta Braves Draftee in the recent Major League draft, showed great skill from the mound, striking out 16 Red Birds in the 9 innings he worked; mowing down the side in the 1st inning. 

In the top of the 9th, trailing 1 - 0, Red Bird bats finally caught up with Lucas' fast balls.  Jeff Pavlovich lead off with a single to left for his 2nd hit of the night.   Nick Brenner laced a single to right for his 3rd hit of the night.  And Luke Penovich doubled to drive home Pavolvich tie the game at 1 - 1.

Lucas then struck out the next three batters to end the Red Birds scoring in the 9th.

Neubauer worked the first two extra innings getting three strikeouts in the 10th - the third with bases loaded - and got two more K's in the 11th.

The Red Birds committed only one error ... and that was questionable as an easy grounder to 2nd base caught a foot print and bounced off Penovich's glove in the bottom of the 11th.  Great fielding by the Red Birds was highlighted by a diving and sliding catch of a pop fly by Bobby Krzmarzick in right field in the 8th inning.

Craig Dose had 3 hits in 6 AB's for the A's.   Malmgren, Heitz and Pavlovich were each 2 for 6, and Nick Brenner was 3 for 5, each of his hits off the Braves Draftee, Lucas.

Next Game for the Red Birds is Tuesday night, June 15th for a 7:30 start at Jordan's MiniMet for the first game against the East Division Team in River Valley League play.