The Three Rivers Sandblasters and Withnell Dodgers split a double header yesterday afternoon at Jiggs Dodson Field in Florence. The Sandblasters took the opener, 12-nothing; then fell to the Dodgers 6-3 in the nightcap. Mike Bennett threw a 5-hit shutout, striking out five in the opener. He was also three-for-four at the plate with a three-run homer, a double, four RBI and three runs scored.
Jake Thompson was two-for-three at the plate with three runs scored and one RBI. Thompson took the mound in game two where he struggled. He also had little help from the defense; four errors; and less backup from the offense as the ‘Blasters left eight runners stranded on base.
One bright spot offensively was John Dodson. He was four of seven at the plate overall on the day.
The Sandblasters are back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon in Eugene against the Springfield Titans.
The Eugene Emeralds bounced back from Sunday’s 17-2 drubbing at the hands of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes with a 4-2 win at home yesterday. All four Eugene runs came in the 2nd inning. The Ems held off a sixth inning rally by the Vols, stifling it after giving up two runs and committing one error to preserve the win. There’s no action today in the Northwest League as they’ll all be watching the Major League All Star Game… the Ems take off for a five-game series in Spokane tomorrow.
