Errorless Brewer beats Bangor 5-2 Economy pitches 4-hitter for win

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BANGOR – Evan Economy pitched a four-hitter as Brewer downed Bangor 5-2 in a late-season showdown of American Legion Zone 1 baseball’s two divisional leaders at Mansfield Stadium on Thursday night.

But as well as Economy performed – requiring just 85 pitches – even he recognized what worked most effectively for the 16-2 Falcons as they avenged one of their losses with their ninth straight win.

“My defense was working for the most part,” Economy said. “I went into the game and felt good, but I didn’t have my best stuff. There were some calls around the corner I didn’t like, but that’s the game, you just have to focus on the next pitch. I worked my fastball and I worked my curveball, and let my defense do the work.”

Brewer backed Economy with errorless defense that produced two double plays and a stellar effort from the left side of the infield, shortstop Chris Maguire and third baseman Kevin McAvoy.

“With [Maguire] and Kevin communicating over there, it’s a tough hit on that side of the field,” said Brewer coach David Morris.

Maguire made the game’s key play, a backhanded stop of a sharp grounder by Bangor’s Ian Edwards with no outs in the bottom of the fourth after Shane Walton had rocketed a leadoff triple to the fence in right-center.

Maguire threw out Edwards without Walton scoring, and Economy followed by getting Scott Hackett and Gordon Webb to ground out to end the inning and preserve Brewer’s 2-0 lead.

“I read it off the bat pretty well, and I didn’t know if I was going to have to go forehand or backhand, so I just went through and got it,” Maguire said. “I thought [Walton] might have took off for home, but he didn’t.”

Brewer reached Bangor starter Jim Cox for two runs in the top of the first. Ricky Adams – who scored three runs – drew a leadoff walk and took second on a wild pitch, then McAvoy reached when Walton couldn’t handle his hot shot to third.

Cleanup hitter Joe Robicheau doubled to center to drive home Adams, and McAvoy scored on a groundout by Prentiss Swett.

Brewer made it 3-0 in the fifth when Adams walked, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a McAvoy groundout before scoring on Cox’s third wild pitch of the game.

Bangor finally got to Economy for two runs in the fifth. Jordan Clarke hit a one-out single, Alex Gallant walked and Crews had an infield hit to load the bases before Kyle Vanidestine grounded a two-run single to left.

But Vanidestine was thrown out after being caught between first and second on the play, and Economy got Walton to hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning with Brewer maintaining a one-run lead.

“When they had guys on and it felt like the momentum might shift a little bit, Evan stayed right in there and threw the way he threw all game long,” Morris said. “He was really consistent that way.”

Maguire padded the Falcons’ lead in the sixth, greeting Bangor reliever Neal Russell with a two-run double to right-center to drive home Andy Otis and Adams.

FALCONS 5, COMRADES 2

Brewer (16-2) Bangor (15-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Adams, 2b 2 3 1 0 Vanidestine, cf 3 0 2

Maguire, ss 4 0 2 2 Walton, 3b 2 0 0

McAvoy, 3b 4 1 0 0 Edwards, ss 3 0 0

Robicheau, c 3 0 2 1 Hackett, 1b 2 0 0

Sasaki, pr 0 0 0 0 Webb, c 2 0 0 0

Swett, dh 2 0 0 1 DeRosa, lf 3 0 0

Brown, 1b 4 0 0 0 Clarke, 2b 3 1 0

Otis, lf 2 1 1 0 Gallant, dh 1 1 0

Davis, rf 2 0 0 0 Crews, rf 3 0 0

Cushing, ph 1 0 0 0

Robbins, cf 3 0 0 0

Totals 27 5 6 4 Totals 22 2 4 2

Brewer 200 012 0-5

Bangor 000 020 0-2

E-Walton, Cox; LOB-Brewer 7, Bangor 4; 2B-Maguire, Robicheau; 3B-Walton; DP-Davis to Brown, McAvoy to Brown; Edwards to Hackett; SB-Otis; Walton

Brewer IP H R ER BB SO

Economy (W, 3-1) 7 4 2 2 4 0

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Cox (L, 3-1) 5 2/3 4 5 4 4 8

Russell 1 1/3 2 0 0 0 0

HBP-Otis (by Cox), Swett (by Cox); Gallant (by Economy); WP-Cox 3; T-2:05; ATT-100 (est.)