Miners too much for A’s

Coming off a heartbreaking defeat to the Butte Muckers last weekend, the A’s returned to action on Tuesday, June 20 to take on the reigning State A Champion Butte Miners in a doubleheader at 3 Legends Stadium in Butte. And the day belonged to the Miners, who defeated the A’s by a score of 16-2 (F/5) in the first game and 18-3 (F/5) in the nightcap. 

The first inning in the opening game started slow for both teams as neither were able to produce a run. After the A’s were blanked in the top of the second, the Miners quickly unleashed their skill at the dish as they strung together nine runs in the bottom half of the inning. Andrew Tallon provided a brief response for the A’s when his sacrifice fly brought home Nate Blodnick for Anaconda’s first run of the game. 

Butte proceeded to add three more runs in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 11. The A’s then posted what was to be their final run of the game when Teague Cromwell hammered a fly ball that discombobulated the Miners and allowed Tyrel Smith to advance home. 

With the score already reading 12-2 in favor of Butte, the Miners drove the last nail into coffin when they posted an additional four runs in the fourth inning. Unable to avoid the run rule, Butte concluded the first game with a dominating 16-2 victory in five innings.  

Andrew Tallon took the loss for A’s. The starting pitcher allowed six hits and nine runs over one-and-two-thirds innings. Tallon struck out one and walked six. Teague Cromwell pitched one full inning and surrendered five hits and three runs, all of them earned. Nate Blodnick relieved Cromwell, and he allowed four walks and four runs, all of which were earned. Tyrel Smith was the final pitcher used for the A’s and he faced only one batter, who proceeded to ground out. 

The A’s got off to a much better start in the second game, but the outcome on the scoreboard still ended up the same.  

Similar to game one, Andrew Tallon put the A’s on the scoreboard when his ground out brought Nate Blodnick home. Tommy Sawyer reached home shortly after on a passed ball. 

Despite the positive momentum for the A’s, the Miners quickly ran away with the second contest when it was their turn to bat. Butte proceeded to score eight runs on a mixture of singles, a stolen base and an error. 

Tanner Cromwell added the last run of the game for the A’s when he scored on a Miner error. Butte then went on to add 10 more runs before the game was called in the fifth inning. The final score read 18-3 in favor of the Miners. 

Cromwell started on the mound for the A’s. He lasted one inning, allowing eight runs and five hits. Jesse Jones relieved Cromwell and he pitched one-and-two-thirds innings. Jones gave up two hits and nine runs, five of which were earned. Zach Blodnick was the final pitcher used by the A’s and he allowed two hits and one run. Blodnick struck out one batter and walked two.

Game 1

A’s 0 0 1 1 0 X X 2

Miners 0 9 3 4 X X X 16

Game 2

A’s 2 1 0 0 0 X X 3

Miners 8 2 7 1 X X X 18