By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Harrison Waters pitched six shutout innings, and John Wagle collected three hits and three runs batted in as the Nevada Griffons spoiled the Joplin Slashers’ home debut with an 8-1 victory Thursday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Waters, a left-hander from Republic and Drury University, scattered five hits — three after two were out — fanned four batters and walked none as the Griffons (2-0) won the Jayhawk League opener.
The Slashers (2-1) scored their run in the seventh off reliever Michael Ratigan, who fanned four in the last three innings.
Mick Doyle walked, Joe Walton singled to center, and both advanced on Colby Price’s groundout to third. Tyler Link’s grounder was fielded by shortstop Ryan Shay, who threw out Link as Doyle scored.
“I have to hand it to Nevada,” Slashers head coach Denny Vilela said. “Their pitchers filled up the zone, threw strikes, and we just didn’t make the adjustment.”
Wagle, from Augustana College, went 3-for-3, scored three runs and walked twice as the Griffons’ leadoff hitter. He walked and scored on Trevor Geist’s single in the first, then hit a run-scoring single and scored during a five-run second as the Griffons opened a 6-0 advantage.
Approximately 400 feet separated Wagle’s next two hits. He beat out a bunt single leading off the fourth but was picked off first.
With two out in the sixth, Wagle lofted a flyball that a 30 mph wind carried away from center fielder Jared DeLong. DeLong, with his back to the infield, got his glove on the ball but couldn’t hold on at the warning track, and Wagle circled the bases for a two-run home run.
“I was thinking Jim Edmonds (who’s made several standout catches in center field in the majors),” Vilela said. “It would have been a great catch.”
A two-out error opened the door for the Griffons’ five-run second inning.
Doc DeBlanc’s groundout and Wagle’s two-out single to left scored the first two runs of the inning. Tyler Reddick, on an 0-2 pitch, grounded a hit-and-run single through the vacated hole at shortstop to advance Wagle to third. Reddick moved to second on a wild pitch before Ryan Shay reached on a throwing error by shortstop Doyle, allowing two runs to score. Shay then stole second and scored on Geist’s single to left.
The Slashers finished with seven hits, including three singles by Walton and a single and double by Will McGinnis.
Joplin starter Ben Hays allowed five hits and six runs (three earned), walked two and fanned none in two innings. Cody Kelly followed with three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and fanning three.
“Benny just didn’t look comfortable, but I did see some positives,” Vilela said. “Joe Walton had three hits, Cody Kelly threw the ball well, and Ben Brown (who allowed one hit in two scoreless innings) threw the ball well. And (Matt) Dalby did a good job, too, worked out of a jam.
Weather permitting, Joplin entertains Hays and Nevada plays host to Dodge City at 7 p.m. today to open three-game series.
