Damon Cruz of the A's deals another strikeout to the Mudcats batter
Saturday afternoon in their season opener, the Mudcats sent their #1 pick Isaac Simon to the mound to face the Alexandria A's on a damp Mt Vernon High School field. Simon faced some defensive struggles due to the deep backstop, but ultimately struck out 5 A's batters in 3 innings pitched, giving up only 2 of 9 runs as earned. Mudcats relievers fanned a further half dozen opposing batters, to match the A's defense's total of 11 K's.
After their shootout on Thursday vs the Knights, the A's again called on the services of Damon Cruz to start the game, and he pitched a gem, striking out 10 Mudcats, giving up only one hit, and allowing no earned runs, to notch his and the A's first win of the Fall 2018 season. The Mudcats would only muster 2 hits total in a game that was ended after the top of the 6th with the A's up 15-2. There was not much offense to speak of on either side, with hits scattered among 8 players, highlighted by Deibler's breaking up of the no-hitter in the 3rd and Carpenter's triple for the Mudcats, and an early double off Simon by the A's Omeir to get the firehose of scoring started.
An earlier game at the field was cancelled when neither the BMT nor the Blue Rocks could field a full team.
The Mudcats will face the BMT at West Potomac Tuesday 8pm, and the A's are scheduled to take on the Cardinals at a field TBA 8pm Thursday.