Preciado’s Grand Slam, Errors Lift White Team To 19-8 Win
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| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 4 | 5 | 6 | | 7 | 8 | 9 | | | | | | | R | H | E | White | | 1 | 0 | 5 | | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 0 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | 19 | 17 | 3 | Red | | 0 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 0 | 2 | | 0 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | 8 | 12 | 9 | |
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White Team scored 12 runs in three innings
LOUISIANA La. – Alex Preciado’s grand slam in the top of the third inning, coupled with nine Red team fielding errors, lifted the White team to a 19-8 victory here Monday in game one of the 2004 Red-White Fall World Series at Moore Field.
In the top of the first, designated hitter Justin Merendino reached on a Dallas Morris fielding error to give the White team a base runner with one out. Micah Cockrell struck out swinging for the second out. Merendino then scored on a two-out opposite-field double by Leonard Guerrero to give White the early 1-0 advantage. Guerrero was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.
Matt Casbon singled up the middle to lead off the top of third for the White team. Devon Bourque followed with a bunt single, advancing Casbon to second. A Merendino single to left field loaded the bases. Cockrell struck out for White’s first out of the inning. Guerrero then reached on a fielder’s choice and Casbon scored on Morris’ second fielding error of the night to give White a 2-0 lead. Preciado cleared the bases with a grand slam to left center to extend the White team’s lead to 6-0.
In the bottom half of the third, Jameson Parker singled home Ray Dees to give Red its first run of the night, making the score 6-1.
The White team led off the fourth with back-to-back doubles to increase its lead to 7-1. Meredino’s single up the middle, scoring Casbon. Guerrero’s sacrifice fly to right scored Devon Bourque, giving the White team a 9-1 advantage.
In the bottom half of the fourth, the Red team scored three runs to trim White’s lead to 9-4.
The Red team’s fielding woes continued in the top of the fifth. Parker’s fielding error allowed Matt Bounds to reach base. Justin Morgan’s triple to left center plated Bounds and Matt Hicks to extend White’s lead to 11-4. Cockrell then reached on a Dees fielding error, scoring Merendino and Casbon to give White a 13-4 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Red team trimmed White’s lead to seven runs. Josh Landry’s single plated Jeremy Smith and Trey Meche to diminish the White team lead 13-6.
The White team scored five more runs in the top of the eighth inning to expand its lead to 12 runs, 18-6. Two more fielding errors by the Red team allowed the White team to capitalize. Kyle Mineo hit a two-run single, scoring Cockrell and John Coker. Matt Hicks followed with a two-run double, plating Preciado and Mineo. Hicks later scored when Jeff Cook grounded into a double play.
Red team tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, trimming the White lead to 18-8.
White team starting pitcher Brandt Sanders received the win. Sanders pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits, while striking out two batters.
Thad Montgomery received the loss for the Red team, pitching three innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits.
Four players for the White team each had two RBI, while Preciado led the team with four RBI. Jonathan Lucroy led the Red team, going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI.
The annual Red-White Fall World Series will continue Tuesday with game two set to begin at 6 p.m.
White Team 19, Red Team 8 (Nov. 1, 2004 at Lafayette, La.)
LOUISIANA SI