By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
The Baton Rouge Rougarou lost its second straight game to the Victoria Generals Monday night, mustering only four hits in a 5-2 loss.
The Generals scored four runs in the second inning to take control of the game and never let the Rougarou back in. Baton Rouge got solo runs in the fifth and the seventh – both without benefit of a hit — but left bases loaded in the sixth.
Starting pitcher Will Tarpley got the loss. He threw four innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs. He walked three and struck out one. Camden Chalfant, Thomas Amador and Hayden Oglesby pitched in relief. Chalfant allowed the Generals’ only other hit and run on a solo home run in the fifth. Collectively, they struck out seven.
But they were no match for the Generals’ staff of Braylon Owens (WP), Bryson Walker and K.T. Gearlds, who held the Rougarou to four hits, walked only four and struck out 15. Gearlds struck out seven in 3 1/3 innings of work.
“Our starter got into trouble in the second inning and we fell down to a 4-0 deficit,” Rougarou coach Jeff “Rooster” Southall said. “Our relief guys all did well. Chalfant gave up a solo homer, but those rarely hurt you bad. Offensively, we struck out (15) times, not giving ourselves a chance to mount any sort of serious threat to come back.”
Josh Shelly and Sully Stringer were the only Rougarou batters with hits; both went 2-for-4.
The Rougarou got one run in the fifth thanks to some miscues by the Generals. Leadoff batter Davis Meche reached first on a dropped third strike, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a grounder by Derrald Moore Jr.
The Generals were generous again in the seventh, T.J. Grimes was hit by a pitch and went all the way home on an error by the Generals’ pitcher.
The Rougarou is off Tuesday and will return to Goldsby Field to host the Generals Wednesday night and Thursday night at 7 p.m.