Oct. 18, 2009
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Right-hander Matt Harvey struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings, and Levi Michael and Greg Holt both homered to lead the White team to a 9-3 series-clinching victory Sunday in North Carolina's intra-squad baseball Fall World Series at Boshamer Stadium. After taking the first three-game series, 2-1, White swept the second best-of-three set this weekend with its third and fourth straight victories.
Holt, who connected on a three-run shot in the five-run third inning, was 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, two runs and three RBI, and the White team also got two hits apiece from Ben Bunting and Matt Harrison. Michael's homer was a two-run blast in the first.
Harvey rebounded from a loss in the opening game of the FWS to work a series-best 5 2/3 innings. In addition to the seven strikeouts, the Mystic, Conn., product allowed just two earned runs, while scattering seven hits and three walks.
Junior right-hander Patrick Johnson went 2 2/3 innings for the Blue team and allowed seven runs on eight hits and five walks. Zach Bernard struck out four and allowed just one earned run in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Brett Thomas and Tommy Coyle both went 2-for-3 with an RBI to pace the Blue team, and Ryan Graepel also added a pair of base hits in the loss.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the White squad continued its strong play in the first to grab an early 2-0 lead. After Bunting ripped a double down the right field line, Michael connected on a two-run homer to right center to spot Harvey a two-run cushion.
Blue bounced back in the second to tie the score with the help of a fielding error. Graepel singled to center and Jacob Stallings doubled down the left field line to put two in scoring position for Thomas, who sent a grounder to the right side that Mike Cavasinni was unable to field cleanly. Both runners scored on the play, but Harvey was able to work out of the inning without any further damage.
The White squad went for five in the third and ended the day for Johnson in the process. After a walk to Michael and a single by Jesse Wierzbicki, Chaz Frank delivered an RBI single to break the 2-2 tie. Holt followed with a three-run shot to left center, his second homer of the FWS, and Harrison singled and scored on a wild pitch for the fifth run in the frame and a 7-2 lead.
After White added an unearned run in the fifth, Holt tripled to right field and scored on a wild pitch for a 9-2 lead in the sixth. Thomas then singled and scored on Coyle's second base hit of the afternoon in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-3 final score.
The seventh inning was highlighted by a plate appearance for bullpen catcher Chase Jones, who was plunked by Ryan Leach and then spent the bottom of the inning at second base in place of Cavasinni.
