By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Since a 20-run outburst on Saturday night, the Joplin Slashers’ bats went quiet.
Blanked 4-0 on Sunday night by Hays, the Slashers managed just one run and eight hits in two games on Tuesday night.
But Travis Jacobi’s run-scoring single in the fifth inning and a strong pitching performance lifted the Slashers to a 1-0 victory over the Dodge City A’s on Tuesday night to salvage a split in the Jayhawk League doubleheader at Joe Becker Stadium.
The A’s won the opener 6-0 behind a four-hit pitching performance and home runs by Chris Ciesla and Travis Meiners.
The Slashers (4-4 2-4 Jayhawk League), who plated eight runs in the first inning and nine in the second last Saturday, scored in only two of their next 25 innings.
The Slashers halted a 19-inning drought in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s nightcap when Colby Price lined a double to right-center field, took third on Keith Kenny’s sacrifice and scored on Travis Jacobi’s single to right.
C.J. Maffei and two relievers made the run stand.
Maffei, a left-hander who’s signed with Missouri Southern, allowed three hits in five innings, walked three batters and struck out four.
Relievers Colin Feneis and Quentin Morgan pitched one hitless inning apiece, although both had to work out of jams. A dandy play by second baseman Patrick Walsh robbed Chris Ciesla of a hit in the sixth, and shortstop Tyler Robbins threw out a runner attempting to reach third on a grounder for the second out in the seventh.
“That performance is exactly what we wanted ... stop the bleeding,” Slashers head coach Denny Vilela said. “C.J. came in and threw strikes, filled the zone up. He had a filthy changeup tonight. I was very happy for him. I was very happy with all three of our throwers in the second game.”
Dodge City starter Dillon Griffin allowed three hits, fanned seven batters and walked three in four innings.
“Offensively we are really hurting right now,” Vilela said. “Granted (Dodge City’s pitchers) threw the ball well, but we have to make the adjustments. We need to be able to hit early in the count. We’re looking at strike one, then strike two will be some wrinkle in the dirt, and now we’re chasing everything.”
A’s southpaw Jermaine Barksdale allowed three hits in 5 2/3 innings in the opener, walked four batters and struck out five. Kevin Ginorio, a right-hander, allowed a hit and two walks in the seventh but escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout to preserve the shutout.
“The two starters pitched well. It’s their first two outings of the year,” said A’s coach Phil Stephenson, the brother of Wichita State baseball coach Gene Stephenson. “Griffin threw for us last year, and he was a lot better this year. He was coming off arm surgery last year. He was a lot sharper this year.
“Barksdale showed a really sharp breaking ball and seemed to keep their guys off balance, spotted his pitches well. And Ginorio did the same thing, and the pitching in the second game was good, too. We actually have pitched pretty well so far this season. Even the game we gave up seven runs, we didn’t play any defense. We made four errors.”
Kevin Enkelman’s two singles accounted for half of the hits for the Slashers. A’s second baseman Max Taylor started double plays after two of the Slashers’ hits, and another Slasher runner was thrown out stealing.
Ciesla’s two-run home run to left capped a three-run first inning for the A’s (1-4, 1-4), and Meiners homered to left to start the fifth. Ciesla followed Meiners’ shot with a triple to center, and he scored on a groundout. Ciesla also hit two doubles in the nightcap.
Slashers starter Joe Bartlinski gave up five runs and six hits in four-plus innings, walked two and fanned two.
The Slashers and A’s conclude their three-game series with a nine-inning contest tonight at 7.
The Slashers’ game Thursday night against Derby (Kan.) has been moved from Joe Becker Stadium to Crowder College. Game time is 7.
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
Single run enough to end Slashers’ drought
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
