An 11-run sixth inning propelled the Cinnaminson Reds to their second victory of the young RVL season on Sunday night over Riverside.
The Reds had a full dugout on Sunday as a handful of mainstays from over the years made their season debuts and some rookies made their league debuts tonight.
“It’s nice to make some tough decisions when you’re putting the lineup together,” manager Frank Sirolli said. “You definitely see a difference when you’re looking over to the other side when they see the guys who’ve been here for the last four or five years collecting hits and can play. It’s comforting to know you’ve got your guys here.”
It was the season opener for Riverside (0-1), which went up 3-0 after the first and 5-0 after the fifth.
Cinnaminson was held without a hit through the first five innings of the game, but continued to get men on base via walks, hit batters and errors.
The Reds just couldn’t pick up a hit to push a run across, until the sixth inning, when Cinnaminson finally got to Riverside starter Tyler Wolf.
“Staying with the at-bats. I felt like we had some good swings earlier in the game,” Sirolli said. “Being a little more patient and getting into hitters’ counts helped.”
Cinnaminson opened the sixth by putting the first three men on base without recording a hit (error and two walks). A wild pitch scored the first run of the night for the Reds.
That was followed by a sacrifice fly and then an RBI single from Cinnaminson High School alum Cody MacNair to pull the Reds within 5-3.
Mark Wickersham stepped to the plate with two outs and hit a groundball to short for what looked to be the final out of the inning. Instead, Riverside first baseman Tyler Zackman dropped the throw from the shortstop and two runs scored to tie the game at 5-5.
“The lineup is pretty deep, so there’s no lull or gaps in the lineup,” Sirolli said. “You know you’re going to be in the game. Look at last game. We struck out 16 times and scratch across a run to win.”
Cinnaminson took the lead for good when Joe Sirolli laced an RBI double down the left field line that scored two runs.
Kyle Higgins tacked on two runs with a single and then MacNair crushed a two-run double to right-center for the final runs of the night.
Despite the 11 runs scored, the Reds finished the night with just six hits.
Jim Goodwin pitched the seventh inning for the Reds, his second appearance of the season. He struck out two to close the door on Riverside.
Brett Bowles picked up the win in relief. Bowles threw two innings, allowing just an unearned run. He struck out two.
“Tonight was the first time I saw Bowles pitch. He works really fast,” Sirolli said. “Looks like he threw two or three different pitches for strikes. We are looking for guys to come in and pitch to contact, attack the hitters. Our defense, despite what we looked like tonight, is pretty solid.”
Ryan Martin got the start for the Reds on the mound. He lasted just one inning after allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit. He walked three. All of the damage came after the first two outs were recorded.
Pat Graham relieved Martin, throwing three innings. Graham allowed one run, it was earned, on one hit. He struck out two.
“We had Graham three years ago,” Sirolli said. “He looks a lot better than he did three years ago. It looks like he matured a little bit. He’s in the strike zone a little bit more.”
The Reds host Burlington Township on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30pm at Memorial Park. Cinn City Sports will have coverage of the game.
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