Head of steam
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With dark rain clouds surrounding them and flashes of lightning threatening, the Mariners’ bats sparked to life and their veteran pitching staff shut down any flicker of Missoula’s offense to sweep a doubleheader against the Mavs and charge into the busiest stretch of the season.
In the 10-0 blanking of the Mavericks to open the doubleheader Sunday afternoon in Polson, Mariner ace Kyle Bagnell pushed his scoreless streak to 21 innings by limiting the Mavericks to one hit and catcher Tim Rausch led the offensive charge, stroking four of the Mariners’ 13 hits and driving in three runs.
In the 6-3 victory in nightcap, Derrick Rathe battled on the mound, allowing only two runs on five hits in six innings of work and the speed of center fielder Cory Hardy wreaked havoc on the Mavs’ defense.
The two conference victories are just what the Mariners needed as they enter a crucial and exhaustive stretch of the season. Starting with a doubleheader at home against Libby Wednesday, the Mariners could play close to 20 games in a two-week span.
In his first time taking the mound since no-hitting the Reps in Helena, Bagnell was simply masterful. The southpaw gave up only one hit – a single to outfielder Alex Bouchee to lead off the second inning. Bouchee was caught stealing and Bagnell struck out the next Mav hitters to get out of the inning. Bagnell struck out 13 of the 19 batters he faced – striking out the side in the first and third inning.
“That’s what he (Bagnell) can do all the time. That’s what he is capable of,” said, an impassioned Mariner manager Jami Hanson about his left-hander with a nasty curve.
And lately, Bagnell has been doing what he did on Sunday every time he takes the mound. In his last three starts, Bagnell has three complete-game victories, hasn’t given up a run and has allowed only two hits during 21 innings of work.
“He’s (Bagnell) the easiest kid to catch. He hits his spots really well, throws really nasty stuff. He makes my job behind the plate really easy,” Rausch said.
The Mariners’ battery made each other’s job a little easier. The college-bound catcher was 4 for 4 at the plate with four doubles, drove in three runs and scored twice.
“I’ve been taking extra hacks with my brother the past two days and that’s really helped...I’m just seeing the ball real well and just stroking it,” Rausch said.
Rausch started the Mariners’ onslaught by flicking a double to the fence on the first pitch he saw in the third inning to drive in Bagnell, who led off the inning with a double and finished the game 2 for 3 with two runs and a RBI. Rausch came home on a Justin Evertz’ single. The shortstop went 3 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs. Evertz’ final two RBIs came on a one-out double to end the game in the bottom of the sixth. Xavier Morigeau also came around to score in the third after reaching on a walk.
The Mariners added two runs in the fourth. After leading off the inning by beating out a bunt and moving from first to third on a bunt by second baseman Kaileb Gillingham, Mariner center fielder Hardy scored on Bagnell’s second double in the game. Bagnell came around on Rausch’s third double of the game.
The Mariners’ cut the game one-inning short by pushing across five runs in the sixth. Gillingham and third baseman Tyler Linse were both hit by a pitch. Rausch drove in Gillingham with his fourth double of the game. Rausch and Linse scored on a single by Rathe. Rathe and Morigeau, who reached with a double, came around to score on Evertz’ game-ending double.
After starting the game 0-3 with runners in scoring position, the Mariners’ went 7 for 9 with RISP the final three innings.
“I’m happy to start scoring runs. That’s what we have to do and that’s what it’s all about,” Hanson said.
In the nightcap, Rathe was able to escape trouble in the early innings and kept getting stronger as the game went on. Despite letting the leadoff hitter reach in the first three innings – two by singles and one by walk – Rathe allowed only one run during the three-inning span. After giving up a leadoff single to Mav shortstop Tres Cunningham in the third, Rathe retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced before getting in trouble with two outs in the sixth. After giving up a two-out single and walking the next two batters, Rathe would’ve escaped the base-loaded jam without allowing a run, except for a fielding error, which was the only Mariner error in the doubleheader.
“He’s (Rathe) not a quitter. He never has been and never will be,” Hanson said.
Rathe struck out seven, walked five and allowed six hits to pick up the win. After giving up three singles to start the seventh, Mariner reliever Josh Rustad struck out the next two batters he faced and got the hold, when Tanner Maier grounded out to second baseman Justin Evans.
Hardy reached base all three times at the plate, despite having only one hit and not hitting the ball out of the infield. Once on base, Hardy set the Mariner offense in motion. Hardy stole four bases and scored two runs. Hardy finished 4 for 5 on steal attempts – he was thrown out at second in the Mariners’ final at bat.
“That’s what he (Hardy) can do. He’s not a power hitter, he’s not always a gap hitter, but he has speed, so he might as well use it,” Hanson said, adding that Hardy’s ability to manufacture runs, “...gives the team a boost...When you score runs it builds up your defense, it builds up your pitching. You have to score runs.”
The Mariners started scoring runs in the first. Evans drove in Linse, who reached with a single, with a two-out single and after reaching on a fielders’ choice, Rausch scored on a balk.
After hustling down the line to beat out a bunt in the second, Hardy stole second and third base and came home on a sac fly from Gillingham.
Linse, who finished 2 for 3 with two runs, led off the third with a single and moved to third on Rausch’s fifth double of the day. Linse came home on a Evertz’ sac fly and Rausch came home after Morigeau stayed in a rundown long enough after being picked off at first base.
Hardy scored the Mariners’ final run in the game on a Gillingham sac fly in the fourth. Hardy reached first on a bunt, then stole second and third for the second time in the game.
Besides designated hitter Matt Detwiler, the doubleheader marked about the first time the Mariners had a full team in the dugout.
“That’s been our biggest thing. We haven’t had everyone together, so we haven’t had good team chemistry... I think this is a big turning point for us, coming out and winning the two conference games. Conference games go a long way in getting back that winning attitude and hopefully we’ll continue it,” Rausch said.
After a doubleheader with Libby at home Wednesday, the Mariners will take their winning attitude to Libby for the Big Bucks tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday they host Salmon in another conference doubleheader and travel down the Bitterroot for a conference doubleheader Tuesday.
Summary
Mission Valley 10, Missoula 0
Missoula 000 000x0 1 1
Mission V. 003 205x10 13 0
Stuart Breckinridge, Shane Olson (6) and Luke Bewley. Kyle Bagnell and Tim Rausch. W - Bagnell. L - Breckinridge.
MISSOULA - Alec Bray 0-3, Conner Anderson 0-2, Tres Cunningham 0-1, Kyle Booi 0-2, Alex Bouchee 1-2, Tanner Rheinschmidt 0-2, Stuart Breckinridge 0-2, Nate Rahs 0-2, Luke Bewley 0-2.
MISSION VALLEY - Kaileb Gillingham 0-2, Kyle Bagnell 2-3, Tyler Linse 0-2, Tim Rausch 4-4, Derrick Rathe 1-3, Xavier Morigeau 1-3, Justin Evertz 3-4, Chris Alfiero 1-3, Cory Hardy 1-2.
Mission Valley 6, Missoula 3
Missoula 010 002 1–3 8 1
Mission V. 212 100 x–6 6 1
Taylor Beierle, Tanner Rheinschmidt (5) and Josh Rahs. Derrick Rathe, Josh Rustad (7) and Tim Rausch.
MISSOULA - Conner Anderson 0-3, Shane Olson 0-2, Tres Cunningham 2-4, Kyle Booi 2-4, Alex Bouchee 0-3, Tanner Rheinschmidt 2-4, Tanner Maier 0-2, Anthony Contonio 0-1, Josh Rahs 1-2.
MISSION VALLEY - Kaileb Gillingham 0-1, Kyle Bagnell 0-1, Tyler Linse 2-3, Tim Rausch 1-3, Justin Evans 1-3, Xavier Morigeau 1-2, Justin Evertz 0-2, Will Wallace 0-3, Cory Hardy 1-2.
