8/19/2016-Roswell Invaders Rally Past Thurston County Senators 9-3

The Roswell Invaders erased a three-run deficit with a huge late-game surge and defeated the Thurston County Senators 9-3 on August 19, 2016 at Citizen Field during the World Baseball Challenge.

For five innings, Thurston County controlled the game.

The Senators scored once in the second inning, once in the third and once more in the fifth to build a 3-0 lead while Roswell was held scoreless.

Roswell starter Kyle Perez kept the Invaders within striking distance despite the early deficit.

Perez worked five innings and allowed five hits and three runs, but only one of those runs was earned. He walked four and struck out three before Roswell's offense finally came alive.

The entire game changed in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jim Smith struck out to begin the inning, but Joey Miller drew a walk and Bobby Webb followed with a single.

Kaohu Gaspar then singled to center field, scoring Miller and putting Roswell on the board at 3-1.

Gavin Lavallee was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Relly Mercuria drew a walk, forcing Webb home and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Thurston County went to the bullpen and brought in Eli Fulton, but Roswell continued applying pressure.

Nate Ferrell drew another bases-loaded walk, scoring Gaspar and tying the game at 3-3.

Morgan Blatnik followed with a fielder's choice before Cody Bishop drew another walk with the bases loaded, bringing Mercuria home and giving Roswell its first lead of the afternoon at 4-3.

Roswell scored four runs in the inning despite collecting only two hits, taking advantage of walks and a hit batter to completely reverse the game.

The Invaders added another run in the seventh.

Joey Miller reached on an error by the Thurston County third baseman, Bobby Webb singled and Kaohu Gaspar followed with another single to load the bases.

Gavin Lavallee then grounded into a double play, but Miller scored on the play to extend Roswell's advantage to 5-3.

The Roswell pitching staff made sure the lead held.

Mike Scimanico followed Perez with two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out two and walking none.

Anthony Pastrana pitched a scoreless eighth despite allowing a hit and two walks, and Evan Karre finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

Roswell then broke the game completely open in the bottom of the eighth.

Nate Ferrell opened the inning with a single and Cody Bishop later drew a walk.

Jim Smith reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Ferrell to score, making it 6-3.

Joey Miller walked, and a wild pitch allowed Smith to score and move Roswell ahead 7-3.

Bobby Webb then delivered the biggest hit of the game.

Webb launched a two-run home run, scoring Miller and himself and extending Roswell's lead to 9-3.

It was Webb's fourth home run of the World Baseball Challenge and capped another strong offensive performance from the Roswell left fielder.

Webb finished 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Gaspar also had a strong game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Lavallee added a double and Relly Mercuria contributed a hit, RBI, run and walk.

Ferrell came off the bench and made an immediate impact, going 1-for-1 with a run, RBI and walk.

Roswell finished with 10 hits and seven walks while scoring all nine of its runs over the final three offensive innings.

Thurston County collected eight hits but could not score after the fifth inning.

Omar Maldanado drove in two of the Senators' three runs while Nick Bowman accounted for the other RBI.

Kyle Perez earned the victory for Roswell after allowing only one earned run in five innings.

Ryan Smith took the loss for Thurston County after allowing four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The victory was another example of Roswell's ability to respond late in games during its World Baseball Challenge run.

The Invaders entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 3-0 and finished the game by scoring nine unanswered runs.

Final Score:
Thurston County Senators 3
Roswell Invaders 9

Line Score:
Thurston County Senators - 3 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
Roswell Invaders - 9 runs, 10 hits, 1 error

Winning Pitcher: Kyle Perez
Losing Pitcher: Ryan Smith

Roswell Offensive Leaders:
Bobby Webb - 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Kaohu Gaspar - 2-for-4, run
Gavin Lavallee - 1-for-3, double, HBP
Relly Mercuria - 1-for-3, RBI, run, walk
Nate Ferrell - 1-for-1, RBI, run, walk
Cody Coffman - 1-for-2
Brett Balkan - 1-for-2

Roswell Pitching:
Kyle Perez - 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, Win
Mike Scimanico - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
Anthony Pastrana - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO
Evan Karre - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO

Game Information:
August 19, 2016
Citizen Field
Start Time: 4:00 PM
Game Time: 2 hours, 49 minutes