JEFFERSON — Alexis Garrido gave Perry seven solid innings on the mound and Brandon Kenyon came through with a pair of clutch base hits as the Bluejays downed Greene County, 7-3, in non-conference play Tuesday.
The Bluejays (2-7) received strong defensive plays from shortstop Adan Medina, second baseman Kenyon and right fielder Janier Puente, along with a ringing two-run double from Kyle Nevitt, to help fuel the victory.
Garrido yielded three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three for the complete game victory. He avoided possible danger in the second and third innings by stranding a runner at third base in the former and at second and third in the latter to help Perry keep control of the game.
Nevitt hustled down the line to reach safely on an infield error with one out in the top of the first, with Kenyon single later in the frame giving the guests a quick 1-0 lead.
Trey Tucker’s RBI-single in the bottom of the inning tied the game, but Perry broke open the contest with a four-run second inning and never looked back.
Austin Carpenter started the second, with Aaron Lockwood walking. Carpenter was forced at third on a Gavin Boyer attempted sacrifice, with Perry avoiding disaster when Kaleb Olejniczak followed with a one-out single.
Lockwood was held up at third base, but courtesy runner Justin Stammer — in for Boyer, the catcher — failed to see Lockwood stop and nearly ran all the way to third, with Olejniczak racing to second. The Jays realized their error soon enough, and with the Rams out of position defensively, Stammer and Olejniczak were able to safely retreat.
Left-handed hitting Nevitt followed up by slicing a ball foul down the left field line. Outfielder Tucker made a spectacular sliding catch and was lucky to avoid injury skidding into the fence, but Lockwood tagged and scored easily on the play.
Puente was intentionally walked to load the bases (Stammer and Olejniczak having alertly tagged up as well on the Nevitt fly out). Adan Medina then popped up between catcher and pitcher, but the Rams misplayed the ball, which plopped harmlessly to the ground as Stammer scored. A two-run single from Kenyon followed and suddenly Perry had a 5-1 lead.
The Rams scratched across a run in the fourth, but Nevitt ripped a double to the fence in center field to drive in a pair of runs as Perry’s margin moved to 7-2 after five frames.
Tucker doubled and eventually scored in the sixth for the hosts, but it was not enough to avoid the loss as Greene County fell to 3-5 overall.
Wade Adcock allowed seven runs (five earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked five batters, hit three others and struck out three in his first start of the season. Bryce Hoyle allowed a hit and fanned two in two innings of scoreless relief.
The victory was number 706 for Perry skipper Mike Long, who was coaching in his 1,100th game (all for Perry) in his 40th year guiding the Bluejays.
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Monday’s Game
CARLISLE 6, PERRY 4
Trailing 5-1, Perry scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to close to within 5-4 of visiting Carlisle at Progressive Field Monday.
The Wildcats scored once in the seventh to open a two-run edge, but Nevitt reached with one out in the bottom of the stanza as the hosts tried to rally, only to have a strikeout and pop-up end the game.
Puente had a RBI-single for the hosts, with Medina clearing the left field fence with a solo home run in the fourth.
Nevitt was touched for five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in five innings on the bump. He finished with 11 strikeouts.
Carpenter threw two frames of relief, yielding an earned run on a hit while striking out two.
Isaiah Henrichs allowed four hits and four runs (two earned) on two walks while striking out 11 in his five innings of work. Nate Mortimer walked two batters, hit one and struck out three while pitching the sixth and seventh.
Perry visits Bondurant-Farrar tonight, hosts Ballard Thursday and will play in the Atlantic Tourney Saturday.
