Griffons win fifth straight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Nevada Griffons' bullpen had been so overused recently that head coach Ryan Mansfield was putting position players and starters on the mound to get through Thursday night's game against Mac-N-Seitz at the Missouri 3&2 Complex.

However, starter Matt Steiner held the A's hitless for the first five innings and four Griffon pitchers struck out 14 A's in a 9-1 rout in MINK League play. Nevada's fifth straight win brings the Griffons (13-8 MINK, 14-10 overall) to within a half-game of Sedalia (13-7, 16-7) in the South Division standings.

Steiner (1-1) lasted 5 2-3 innings. Although he allowed only one hit, he struggled with his control in allowing seven walks and hitting a batter. He also struck out eight.

The Griffons got on the board early as Mac-N-Seitz pitcher Danny Delong also struggled with his control. A hit batter, a throwing error on a bunt and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning. However, all the Griffons were able to get was a John Lee sacrifice fly to bring in John Wagle and a steal of home by Taylor House for a 2-0 lead.

Two more runs went up in the third as House led off with a double and Jason Houston walked. The runners executed a double steal with House scoring when the catcher's throw went into the outfield. Houston advanced to third on the play and scored on a Lee groundout. Matt Pitts doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on a Wagle single to make it 5-0.

It became 7-0 after five. Lee drew a two-out walk and Clint Vest followed with a single to short right that landed among three fielders. The throw back to the infield was errant, allowing Lee to score. Vest ended up at third and scored easily on Joe Lincoln's double.

Steiner got into trouble in the bottom of the fifth as a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with two out. But he got out of the jam with a pop fly to first base.

Mac-N-Seitz (5-12, 6-13) got its only run in the sixth as Steiner started to wear down. Mansfield brought reserve catcher Tyler Smith, the night's "emergency pitcher" into the contest with the bases loaded and two out and he struck out Jack Dudenhoeffer to end the threat.

The Griffons scored their final two runs in the seventh. Houston led off with a walk and Peter Barrows got a hit to left field. Kevin Sullivan, who came in for Lee during the pitching change the previous inning, was then hit by a pitch to lead the bases. Vest drew a walk to force in Houston. Lincoln grounded into a fielder's choice with Barrows thrown out at home but Pitts lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Sullivan.

Smith pitched the seventh and got two fly outs to House in center, then struck out Robbie Payton looking to end the inning and his stint for the night. Kyle Oestereicher pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Adam Champion, coming back from a twisted ankle, struck out the side in the ninth, although Mike Levine did get the Athletics' only other hit with two out.

Nevada now has both Friday and Saturday off as a scheduling conflict has forced Mac-N-Seitz to postpone Saturday's scheduled game. There will be a doubleheader between the Griffons and Athletics Sunday with the first game set to begin at 5 p.m.

The league rain date is Monday before the Griffons return home to face Ozark in single MINK games Tuesday and Wednesday. Eight of Nevada's last 10 regular-season games will be played at Lyons Stadium.