Skip to content

Premier Pirates can't cash in chances

The Hub City Paving Pirates had a chance to bump a slump, but stranded too many baserunners. The premier Pirates lost 3-2 to the Victoria Mariners in nine innings Tuesday night at Serauxmen Stadium.
9150nanaimopirates_IMG_6909
A pickoff throw eludes Nanaimo Pirates shortstop Brady Rogers

The Hub City Paving Pirates had a chance to bump a slump, but stranded too many baserunners.

The premier Pirates lost 3-2 to the Victoria Mariners in nine innings Tuesday night at Serauxmen Stadium.

“It really should never have been tight,” said Doug Rogers, Pirates manager. “We left so many runners on base, we left the bases loaded twice.”

Rogers said middle-of-the-order guys came up to the plate with RBI opportunities, but didn't have the right mental approach.

"When you're losing it doesn't happen easy," he said. "You have to really concentrate as a hitter to be able to make that happen."

Nanaimo erased a 2-0 deficit, finally tying it in the bottom of the seventh on Jordan Clarkson’s RBI double.

“We really wanted to win that game; it was a tough loss,” Clarkson said. “I thought we had it, but I guess not.”

He and Ben Dunbar led the offence with two hits each and Kenton Schroter suffered the loss in a relief appearance.

Next action for the Pirates is Saturday (July 2) when they visit the Parksville Royals for games at 12:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Games against the rival Royals are always emotionally charged, which might be a good thing for the Pirates right now, said Rogers. His guys will be up for the challenge.

"That part of the game we don't have to worry about," said the manager. "It's just execution."

The Royals won't make it easy on the Pirates, as both teams will give their all in their only games of the weekend.

"We'll be seeing their two best pitchers and they'll be seeing ours," Clarkson said. "It'll be two good games and we'll be up for it, for sure."

sports@nanaimobulletin.com