Newport Gulls defeat Laconia Muskrats 10-3
Catcher Jeff Melillo broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI double in the bottom of the third inning and starting pitcher Daniel Wright went five inning to improve to 6-0 overall this season, as the Newport Gulls went on to defeat the Laconia Muskrats, 10-3, in their final regular season meeting of the summer, in front of 2,877 fans at historic Cardines Field on Wednesday, July 25.
Newport improved to 26-9 overall this season with the victory, but it was a bittersweet night for the Gulls as they said goodbye to outfielder Yale Rosen. The dynamic centerfielder from Washington State University will miss the rest of the season with an injury. Rosen batted .339 (38-for-115) with 34 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 14 BB. Rosen finishes with an on-base-percentage of .431 and slugging percentage of .730, which would have eclipsed the franchise and league record of .722, which was set by Cyle Hankerd in 2005. Rosen is slated to return home to Washington later this week to undergo surgery.
“Tonight was a big win for us,” said Melillo. “Every game we’re looking to get better in all aspects, everyone is improving and we’re playing as a team…Yale is a great player and has helped a lot throughout the season, we wouldn’t be where we are without him…He’s a huge part of our team, but we’re going to have to keep working hard and doing what we’re doing without him.”
Wright picked up the win for the first-place Newport Gulls after tossing five solid innings, allowing just three runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. The junior from Arkansas State has won six of his seven starts this summer and started the 2012 All-Star Game for the Eastern Division on Sunday.
Brett Graves pitched two shutout innings in relief of Wright, giving up just one hit, with three strikeouts and a single walk. Relievers Tanner Chelborad and Ryan Halstead tossed a pair of scoreless innings to slam the door on the Muskrats and preserve the victory for the Gulls.
Laconia starting pitcher Nevin Wilson took the loss, falling to 1-3 overall this summer, allowing seven runs on eight hits, with one strikeout and a trio of walks over three and one third innings. Two of Wilson’s three losses this season have come at the hands of the Gulls. Laconia fell to 15-23 overall this season with the loss.
The Newport Gulls will travel to Maine tomorrow to face the Sanford Mainers, and will be back in action at home this Friday evening, July 27 as they take on the New Bedford Bay Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Cardines Field.
