BANGOR, Maine — Defense proved to be the key factor in Saturday’s American Legion baseball double-header between city rivals Bangor and Motor City as the teams settled for a split.
Motor City turned five double plays on the day and stranded 11 Bangor runners in the first game en route to a 4-1 victory.
Defense would prove to be Motor City’s undoing in the second game, however, as a dropped third strike turned an inning-starting strikeout into a runner in scoring position and a five-run seventh for the Comrades and a 9-4 Bangor victory.
In the first game, Motor City’s Aaron Healey gave up five hits in four innings, but allowed just one run and got solid bullpen support via three innings of one-hit scoreless relief by Chris Hammond and Jon Johnson.
Meanwhile, Chris Potter had two singles and one RBI, and Casey Hull hit an RBI double to pace Motor City’s offense.
Shane Walton had two singles and an RBI for Bangor.
The second game would be almost a complete turnaround as Motor City would strand 11 base runners and Bangor played errorless ball.
Kyle Savage earned the win on the mound after Ian Edwards sparked Bangor’s offense with a game-tying three-run home run in the fifth and a three-run double in the seventh.
Nick Smith paced Motor City with three singles and an RBI.
Bangor is now 10-4 in the Zone 1 standings while Motor City is 7-8.