Royals vs. Pirates 6-12-23 at Moscariello Ballpark

READING- The Pirates rode strong pitching to a game one 4-2 victory over the Royals in a quick moving game played in less than 90 minutes.
A sloppy defensive start for the Royals was their undoing in the bottom of the second inning as the Bucs got all the runs, they needed 4 batters into their order.
Down 1-0, Hayden Mirasolo hit a ground single just the second baseman’s reach.
Isaac Robinson reached on an infield error and a wild pitch followed putting runners on second and third base.
A Brandon LaMontagne grounder to shortstop was nicely played but a wild throw brought home Robinson and LaMontagne advanced to second base.
Tyler Marchlik grounded out scoring Robinson to put the Pirates up 2-1
Next up Owen Prior stroked one of the harder hits of the game but a nice over the shoulder catch was made by Nolan Zelch on the line drive but Lamontagne smartly read the play and tagged up to third base.
Nolan McKinnon, who is having a strong playoff season, then singled in LaMontagne with the winning run. This was the second straight game the thirteen-year-old drove in the winning run.
The Royals had taken a 1-0 lead when Brady Keaveney singled to start the game and stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Nate Vitarisi.
Later in the inning second baseman Jack Prescott made a nice running catch of a pop up in the short outfield to keep the deficit at one run.
The Pirates tacked on a second run in the second inning after a two out single by Evan Manfredi, who advanced on an infield error and a steal of third before trotting home on a balk to make the score 4-1.
From there both team’s pitchers shut down the opposition and baserunners were kept to a minimum with only two walks issued in the game and solid defense on both sides.
The biggest highlight of the game was on the Royals side where Avery Koehler made a spectacular full out diving catch in left center field robbing Mirasolo of a double in the fourth inning.
The Royals made it interesting when Keaveney (2 for 2) doubles, stole third base and was balked home in the fourth to narrow the lead to 4-2.
That was the last threat however as Isaac Robinson struck out 5 batters in his two inning save to bring the Pirates one win away from their first RBRL title since 2012.
Game 2 is Tuesday night at Moscariello Ballpark at 5:45. Trophy ceremony to follow if the Pirates win.

ROYALS (2)-. Keaveney 2-2, Vitarisi 2-0, A Koehler 1-0, Martello 2-0, Fitzgerald 2-0, R Koehler 2-0, Payne 2-0, Lewis 2-0, Macari 2-0, Zelch 2-1, Borges 2-0, Joyce 2-0, Aimes 2-0. Totals 25-3

PIRATES (4) – Mirasolo 2-1, Robinson 2-1, LaMontagne 2-0, Marchlik 2-0, Prior 2-0, McKinnon 2-1, Santunioni 1-0, Travassos 2-0, Filipski 2-0, Manfredi 2-1, Criscuolo 1-0, Jenkins 2-0, Reid 0-0, Prescott 1-0, Rimkunas 1-0. otals 24-4

ROYALS 100 100 0 -2
PIRATES 310 000 x -4

Double: Robinson, Keaveney

Pitchers:
Vitarisi 2IP 3H 1 ER 2K
R. Koehler 3IP 1H 2BB 2K
Martello 1IP 1BB 2K

Marchlik 2IP 1H 1ER 1K
Lamontagne 3IP 1H
Robinson 2IP 1H 5K

W- Marchlik
L- Vitarisi
Hold- Lamontagne
Save- Robinson