Tobs’ playoff hopes staggered in loss to Yard Gnomes

GREENVILLE — Chasing after the final East Division spot for the fast-approaching Coastal Plain League’s Petitt Cup playoffs, the Wilson Tobs discovered in Saturday evening’s game against the Greenville Yard Gnomes that when it rains, it pours.

With the monsoon that washed over Wilson around 8 p.m. fast approaching Guy Smith Stadium, the Tobs, trailing 7-4, loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and second baseman A.J. Jones coming to bat. Jones, the No. 9 hitter batting .212, had hit a grand slam at cozy Guy Smith just a week earlier, but he wasn’t afforded an encore opportunity as the storm hit Greenville. The field was cleared, and shortly thereafter, the game was called and reverted to the last full inning.

The loss was the Tobs’ second straight against the upstart Yard Gnomes after beating their nearest CPL neighbor in the first four meetings this summer. This one hurt the most, however, as the Tobs watched their Petitt Cup hopes take a step back.

The Peninsula Pilots clinched at least a share of the East Division second-half title to go with their first-half championship claimed after Wilson had owned first place for much of it. The second East playoff spot will go to the team with the next-best overall record. The Wilmington Sharks clipped the Morehead City Marlins 3-2 on Saturday and now sit 26-17 with a two-game lead over the Tobs with five games remaining — including Friday’s showdown in Wilmington.

The Tobs, 23-18 overall, tumbled to 8-9 in the second half and in fourth place behind Peninsula (15-3), which beat West Division-leader Martinsville 9-8 on Saturday to improve on its CPL-best 31-11 mark.

The Yard Gnomes ended a five-game skid with their third win in eight tries against Wilson. Greenville, now 6-13 in the second half and 11-32 overall, is in last place in the East.

The Tobs continued their home run trend that started in Friday’s 14-4 win at High Point-Thomasville with a season-high four long balls. Left fielder Luke Walton, who belted a three-run shot Friday, gave Wilson the lead in the top of the second when he connected for a solo shot, his third round-tripper this summer.

Greenville touched Tobs starting pitcher Jonah Milchuck for a run in the bottom of the third on three hits, including J.C. Vanek’s double.

The Tobs hit the power button again in the fourth when center fielder Mackenzie Wainwright blasted his 11th homer, giving him the CPL lead over High Point-Thomasville’s Brantley Willis. Those two homers represented half of the Tobs’ hits total for the game. Wilson’s lead wouldn’t last long, however, as the Gnomes scored twice with two outs against Milchuck, whose fielding error contributed to the Greenville largesse.

Milchuck departed after the fourth, having given up three runs — two earned — on eight hits and a rare walk with three strikeouts. He got off the hook in the top of the fifth when the Tobs tied the score 3-3 against Greenville starter Hayden Johnson, who hit Walton and walked the next two Wilson batters before Walton scored on Jack Kail’s fielder’s choice grounder.

Tobs reliever Sebastian Khan, Milchuck’s replacement, made it through the bottom of the fifth despite having to negotiate out of a self-induced jam following a one-out walk and a double by Greenville’s Carlos Vasquez.

Johnson retired the Tobs in order in the sixth and the Yard Gnomes rewarded him with a win after scoring four off Wilson reliever Marshall Whitmer in the bottom of the inning. Whitmer took the loss, his first after three wins, after giving up four runs on four hits and a walk while also committing a costly error of his own.

Greenville gave back in the seventh as a two-out error by second baseman Cason Eubanks allowed Tobs right fielder Chris Amparo, who had singled, to score.

Herring’s 3-for-4 night led Greenville, which accumulated 13 hits.

The Tobs will host the Yard Gnomes in the regular-season finale Saturday, July 27, at Fleming Stadium. Wilson welcomes Morehead City to Fleming on Tuesday, July 23, after taking Monday off.

Score by innings:

Tobs 010 110 1 — 4

YGs 001 204 0 — 7

W-Hayden Johnson (2-2) 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 7 SO. L-Marshall Whitmer (3-1) 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: Luke Walton 1-2, HR, RBI; Mackenzie Wainwright 1-3, HR, RBI; Jack Kail 1-3, RBI, SB; Chris Amparo 1-2, R. Greenville: Aden Howard 2-5, R, 2 RBIs; Jack Herring 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBIs; Carlos Vasquez 1-3, 2B; Gage Griggs 2-4, 2 R; U Walters 1-4, RBI; J.C. Vanek 1-4, 2B, R.

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