Grizzlies take game three

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

El Dorado, KS-Butler has proven time and time again this season that they're a different team in their own ballpark. And boy did they show it on Saturday.

Austin Portner went deep, Colby Standard collected three hits, and the Grizzlies powered past Garden City 8-4 at McDonald's Stadium.

"Today was totally different than Thursday," Broncbusters Head Coach Chris Finnegan said afterwards. "We couldn't get ahead; we didn't get ahead, and we didn't put guys away."

Blake Mackintosh, who made his first start in nearly a month, was good, but not great. He worked in and out of trouble for the most part, giving up an RBI groundout to Bryce Zimmerer in the second that put the Grizzlies in front 1-0.

"Unfortunately, we pitched in the middle of the plate," Finnegan explained. "You can't do that against a good offensive team like that."

Garden City managed to tie the game in the fourth. Dakota Finley and Ibrahim Rodriguez stroked back-to-back singles, and Jake Barber blooped a run-scoring base hit into right. But for the most part, that was the gist of the Garden City offense.

The rest of the day belonged to Butler.

The Grizzlies grabbed the lead for good in the home half of the fourth, taking advantage of Portner's leadoff double. With two outs, Thomas Beiswanger, who was hitless in five straight games entering Saturday's opener, pulverized Mackintosh's elevated fastball to the gap in left-center for an RBI double. Finnegan then replaced his starter in the fifth with Owen Mitchell, who immediately walked Jackson Syring. Dylan Werries followed with a single to left, Standard got a run home on a fielder's choice, and that was all for Mitchell, who gave way to Shane Miller.

Unfortunately, he didn't fair much better.

The first batter he faced, Portner, blasted a 1-0 fastball over the fence in left-center for a two-run shot and a 5-1 lead. An inning later, the Grizzlies got to reliever Evan Dean tagging him for three runs: an RBI single by Syring and a two-run base hit by Standard that made it 8-1.

"It was just a really poor day pitching all the way around," Finnegan added. "When Shane comes in, he has to be on the corners. He has to be. Unfortunately, he was over the plate, and good hitters are going to take advantage of that."

Garden City did rally back in the seventh. Kyle Jameson hit sacrifice fly, Brennen Nolte, Dakota Finley and Ibrahim Rodriguez slapped RBI singles, and the Broncbusters trailed 8-4. But with two on and a chance to bring the tying run to the plate, Butler closer Zach Nagel painted a 3-2 fastball on the corner, freezing Jean Barreto to end the game.

"We didn't have anyone show me anything out of the pen today," Finnegan said.

Mackintosh allowed two runs on six hits in four innings for Garden City, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Meantime the bullpen, which has been much improved through the first 18 games, allowed six earned runs over two innings of work.

Nate Adler improved to 4-0 on the bump for Butler, who remained perfect at home this season (8-0). He allowed four runs on six hits in six innings. He fanned four. Standard finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, and Portner was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.