Tides comeback falls short
- Updated: August 12, 2020
Trailing by four runs entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the top-seeded Northeast Tides bats finally came to life.
In the end though, the Peabody Champions were able to hold on to a 4-2 Game 1 victory in the best-of-three first-round series of the North Shore Baseball League playoffs.
After one out in the seventh, Tides shortstop, Keagan Calero drew a walk. Left handed hitting first baseman Drew Healey stepped up to the plate and continued to display his opposite-field power by launching a two run home to left field to cut the deficit in half.
After the next Northeast Tides hitter grounded out to short for the second out, catcher Nolan Elmore delivered a single and gave hope that this game was not over.
Jonathan Dube and Zack Clough added back-to-back singles that loaded the bases for the Tides, which put the tying run on second base and the winning run on first. Peabody closer, Tyler Fitzgerald was able to bear down though and get the next Northeast batter by way of strikeout, ending the potential comeback victory for the Tides.
Speaking of strikeouts, that proved to be the Achilles’ heal for the team from New Hampshire as the Tides fanned sixteen times against four different Peabody pitchers.
The lack of run support led to Tides starting pitcher Kevin Gould receiving the tough-luck loss. Gould pitched six strong innings and allowed two unearned runs. He struck out 10 batters and gave up four hits.
The Tides loaded the bases with two outs in both the third and fifth innings, but could not deliver the timely clutch hit.
Elmore was the lone Tide player with a multiple-hit game. In addition to his home run, Healey walked all three times in his previous at bats. Right fielder, Jordan Gosselin had two walks on the night and added a stolen base.
Game two of the series will be played Wednesday night at Haverhill Stadium in Haverhill, Mass., (8 p.m.). Tommy Lawrence will get the start on the mound for the Tides as Northeast hopes to force an elimination Game 3 Thursday.
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