The game was close from start to finish, but in the end the Lynn Babe Ruth 14s were able to summon just enough magic to escape with a 4-3 win over Dracut in a pool play game during the newly established “COVID Games” event at Clancy Field Tuesday night.
That magic came in the final play of the game, when Lynn led 4-3 with a Dracut runner on third with one out in the top of the seventh. Lynn intentionally walked a batter to put men on first and third, then a hard chopper was hit to third baseman Janier Rodriguez on the ensuing play. After looking the runner back at third base, Rodriguez fired a strike to first baseman Richie Avery for the out. When the runner broke for home on the throw to first, Avery turned and winged the ball right to Guzman at the plate, who applied the tag and ended the game on a 5-3-2 double play.
Guzman also led the way offensively in the win for Lynn, drawing three walks and scoring a run. John Disia added a single, a walk and a run scored in the win.
On the mound Tuesday, Anthony Cedeno earned the win in relief after pitching two no-hit innings. Starter Almani Medina went the first five innings for Lynn, allowing three unearned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts.
It’s not the first time in this event that Guzman, Cedeno and Medina played the heroes, as they were the stars of the show in Friday night’s win over Methuen. Guzman fired a no-hitter Friday night, striking out 17 batters and walking just three in a 8-0 victory, while Cedeno had a double and three RBI. Medina went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
With the victory, the Lynn 14s are now 2-0 in pool play and sit firmly in the driver’s seat moving forward in the “COVID Games.”
After their scheduled game for Wednesday night was rained out, the Lynn 14s will be back on the field Saturday afternoon (2) when they take on Methuen back at Clancy Field.