Grays Post 20th Win of the Season, Prepare for Final Stretch
Jon Henson
September 14, 2018
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Slater Park Fall Festival played host to the pastime
last Sunday, when Providence squared off against the Connecticut Bulldogs for
one 1884 match in Pawtucket. When the dust settled, the Grays emerged
victorious for the twentieth time this season, making 2018 one of the best
overall outings in club history, with ten games still to play. The squad is now
focused on a strong finish on the road, starting with a doubleheader this
Saturday, September 15, with the Beaneaters at Ronan Park in Boston.
The Bulldogs and Grays fought to a close finish just two
weeks prior (Aug. 26) in Hartford, where Providence held on for a 10-9 win.
Last Sunday, however, the day belonged to the local nine from the outset.
Providence jumped out to a commanding 11-run lead after one and never looked
back. The Bulldogs, never dismayed by the large lead the Grays built, played
strong throughout, but the defense, behind commanding pitching from Connor
Pirruccello-McClellan, dominated in their respective positions as much as they did
at the plate. Offensively, many Grays’ batters enjoyed a multi-hit outing,
highlighted by homeruns off the bats of Greg Smith (1st inning) and
Tony McClellan (4th inning), a Captain Brian Travers triple, and a
pair of doubles by Mike “Banquet” Swanson.
This weekend’s matchup with Providence and Boston will
feature the sixth and seventh faceoffs between the two squads for 2018. The
Grays lead the season series over Boston 4-1, but the last meeting between the
two (June 24 at the New England Vintage Base Ball Festival in Cornish, Maine)
saw the Beaneaters down the Grays 13-10 in an 1864 match. The road show will
continue for Providence after this weekend, with a doubleheader vs. the Mutuals of New York at the Long Island Fair (Sep. 22, Bethpage, NY), two more against
the New Hampshire Granite (Sep. 29, Mt. Vernon, NH), another doubleheader with
Hingham (October 7, Hingham, MA), and the traditional Grays season finale in
Salem, MA, on October 20, playing two against our good friends the Atlantic of Brooklyn.
This Saturday’s doubleheader will commence with one 1886
contest, followed closely by an 1864 match to round out the day. Location:
Ronan Park, Boston, MA (GPS – 92 Mount Ida Rd, Dorchester). First pitch is 10
a.m.
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Photos: Patrick Reilly
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Photos: Patrick Reilly
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