Grays Drop Two in CT, Play Twin Bill on Saturday with Boston

July 25, 2020

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Sunday, July 12, the Grays (2–2) returned to Wethersfield Cove Park in Connecticut to face off with a pair of local clubs in a doubleheader, featuring 1884 rules in game one and 1865 rules in game two. The Connecticut BBC of Hartford derailed Providence’s effort to extend a 15-game win streak by holding the lads in gray to two hits over nine full innings, with a final score of Hartfords 8, Providences 4. The Grays’ offense picked up in the second game, but the Red Onion BBC of Wethersfield hit even better to take the contest with 15 aces to 13 for the Rhode Island squad. Providence will look for the sweep of a twin bill with the Boston Union today in East Weymouth to move their record above .500 on the young season.

Grays vs. Hartfords, July 12, 1884

The Connecticut nine started off the scoring in the top of the first, plating two unearned runs off Grays errors. Providence did not score in the first three innings against a brilliant performance by Hartford’s young hurler Drew Moran. Providence pitcher Kai Henson, with the Grays defense behind him, held Connecticut scoreless through the third inning as well for a 2 to 0 Hartford lead going into the fourth. Connecticut put two more across before Captain Brian Travers (first base) knocked the Grays’ first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, reaching base on a clean single to right, only to be put out on short stop Mike “Banquet” Swanson’s fielder’s choice. Third baseman Mike Duggan made his first on a Connecticut error, then he and Banquet both scored when Kai Henson reached second on an error. Despite the lackluster offense, Providence kept the match tight, trailing Hartford 4 to 2 at the halfway mark.

Hartford added another in the fifth while holding the Grays scoreless, then tallied yet another ace in the sixth before Providence pushed another runner across the plate in the bottom of the frame. Captain Travers picked up his and the team’s second and last hit of the game, took second on a passed ball, stole third, and scored when Duggan reached base on a first baseman’s error. The Connecticut club continued to build a lead, scoring one run in each of their last three frames while holding Providence scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. Chasing five runs going into the bottom of the ninth, Jon “Bones” Henson, pinch hitting for Kai Henson, reached first with a base on balls offered up by Hartford closer Nick Hardy. Henson stole second and scored on an error before the third out was recorded for a final score of 8 to 4, Hartford.

Grays vs. Red Onion, July 12, 1865

Wethersfield struck first in the matinee match and put up two quick runs off Bones Henson’s pitching. The Red Onion added another tally in the second while holding the Grays scoreless through their first two frames for a 3 to 0 lead heading into the third. Providence finally withheld the dish from the hosts in the third frame while scoring four of their own runs to take a 4 to 3 lead. Right fielder Jamie Maynard led off with a single and stole second, followed by a Travers base on balls, then two consecutive singles from left fielder Banquet Swanson and short stop Duggan. Wethersfield responded in kind, pouring in five more runs in the top of the fourth before Providence reclaimed three to make it 8 to 7 Red Onion after four.

Second baseman RJ Zimmerman led off the fourth for the Grays with a single and stolen base, followed by base knocks from Maynard and Travers. Bats fell silent for both squads in the fifth, but Wethersfield clobbered the sphere in the sixth for six additional tallies while holding the Grays scoreless for a commanding 14 to 7 lead. Providence gave up only one more run through the remainder of the game while chipping away at the Wethersfield lead, scoring three times in each of the seventh and eighth innings.

Jerry McCormack led off the seventh with a single, and Kai Henson (second base) followed with another before back-to-back doubles from Zimmerman (now in center) and catcher Johnny Carlevale. Banquet ignited the offense in the eighth inning with a single, and Duggan built the momentum with a double then scored when K. Henson reached on a short stop error. Zimmerman notched a 2-RBI single to complete the scoring for Providence on the day. The Red Onion tallied a final ace in the top of the ninth for 15 total runs compared to 13 for the Grays.

Providence vs. Boston Union

The Grays will square off with their friends from the Commonwealth for a ‘64/’65 doubleheader in East Weymouth on Saturday, July 25. Providence welcomes the return of the friendly rivalry that has grown between the two clubs as the Union begins their second (and, unfortunately, pandemic-shortened) season. Follow the Grays on Facebook and Instagram for updates.