Shortstop Steven McLean’s go-ahead run in the seventh inning and heads-up defensive play in the 8th secured a 5-4 win for the Harrisonburg Turks over the Staunton Braves.
McLean’s run came in the bottom of the seventh after a Thomas Smith error allowed the Braves to score two runs in the top of the frame and tie the game at 4-4. Center fielder Thomas Spitz drove in McLean with an RBI single after the shortstop had reached on a double with two outs.
In the top of the eighth inning with two outs, McLean saved a Staunton run from scoring when he took a sharply hit ground ball and threw to third base instead of first, catching the runner off of the bag and in a rundown to end the inning.
Harrisonburg starter Garrett Ford (2-1) earned his second win of the season with a performance of eight innings pitched, 10 hits, four runs, one strikeout and two walked batters. Staunton starter Kooper Kessler (1-1) took the loss for the Braves. Tyler Brown earned his first save of the season by striking out the side in the top of the ninth inning.
This is the second straight win for Harrisonburg, which improves to 6-5. Staunton has now lost four games in a row and falls to 4-6. The Turks travel to Waynesboro on Sunday to face the Generals at 7:00 p.m.
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