RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

NATIONALS SCORE EARLY TO BEAT AMERICANS IN 18AAA ALL STAR GAME The National Division scored all of their runs in the second and third innings, and their pitching made them stand up for an 8-3 victory in the 18AAA All Star game June 24 at the Lantana Sports Complex. After spotting the Americans a first inning run, the Nationals exploded for six runs and seven hits in the second inning, followed by two more in the third inning on a prodigious two-run homer by the Rockets’ Brian Fitzsimmons. The American Division tallied single runs in the seventh and ninth innings. Fitzsimmons made a great diving catch of a sharp liner by the Orioles’ Aaron Hancock to lead off the ball game, and after getting a second out, National starter Mike Draper (Rockets) issued back to back walks to Stefan Clark (Orioles) and Chris Murphy (Indians). Brad Barbaccia (Orioles), who led his team with three hits, including a solo homer, then smashed an RBI single to left, giving the Americans the early lead. The Nationals, though, roared back in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs to take charge of the game. Eddie Burdick (Cardinals) and Draper both singled, and Willie Martinez (Rockets) drove in the first run with a double to left. Nick Adames (Los Tigres) followed with a two run single to left. Milt Muller singled, and Emilio Vargas (Cardinals) beat out an infield single to lead the bases. Courtesy runner Justin Lloyd (Giants), running for Adames, scored on a wild pitch by American starter Casey Furman of the Orioles, with Muller and Vargas both moving up. Muller scored on another wild pitch, and after Keith Buck walked, Glen Landy (Glory Days) ripped a single to right to bring in the final run of the inning. In the fourth, Fitzsimmons blasted a two-run shot to deep right center field off Adam Lynch (A’s), scoring Dave Machado of the Rockets, who had walked, in front of him to give the Nationals a commanding 8-1 lead. The pitching staffs took over for both sides after that. Craig Eaton pitched two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit on a wicked liner by Hancock that struck Eaton in the arm in the third inning, but the former Kansas City Royal stayed in the game and retired the next five batters. A double play ended the fourth inning after Murphy reached on an error in right field, and Eaton got Barbaccia to pop up to first base. Eaton was credited with the pitching victory. Justin Lloyd (Giants) followed with two more scoreless innings until the Americans broke through off Landy in the seventh. Barbaccia singled over third, moved to third on a double by the Indians’ Jared Green and scored on a scratch single by the A’s Gabriel Lezama. Landy struck out four in his two inning stint, but surrendered the one run and four hits. Barbaccia accounted for the final run when he crushed a pitch by the Rockets’ Billy Brescia over the fence in left center in the ninth. Pete Fuster (2IP) and Melvin Bruno (1IP), both of the Twins, and Green (1IP) shut out the Nationals over their last four at bats, but by then the damage had been done. The game, which was rescheduled after being washed out on June 19, was played in a zippy two hours and 14 minutes.