Yard Gnomes outslam Tobs 8-4 at Guy Smith

GREENVILLE — Like a little brother growing up quickly, the Greenville Yard Gnomes demonstrated to the Wilson Tobs on Saturday night that anything you can do, I can do better in an 8-4 victory at Guy Smith Stadium.

The Tobs took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a grand slam by second baseman A.J. Jones, his first home run of the summer. But the Yard Gnomes had a slam up their sleeve as designated hitter Jack Herring poled a four-bagger off Wilson reliever Brandon Warren to finish off a five spot in the bottom of the inning.

That was it for the Tobs as Greenville pitcher Riley Marcotte tossed four shutout innings in relief of starter and winner Hayden Johnson (1-2).

The loss dropped the Tobs to 6-7 and five games behind CPL East Division leader Peninsula Pilots in the second half. Wilson stands 21-16 overall, good for third place, six games behind Peninsula (26-9, 10-1) and 1 1/2 games behind the Wilmington Sharks (23-15, 7-7) in second place. The Sharks will visit the Tobs on Sunday night at Fleming Stadium.

Greenville (5-8) matched its win total in the first half with just its second defeat of the Tobs in seven tries in the Yard Gnomes’ inaugural season.

The Gnomes chased Wilson starter Brady Pacha in the third inning after left fielder J.C. Vanek’s bases-loaded double cleared the bags. The Tobs got to Johnson in the fourth after the Greenville starter had faced the minimum number of batters through the first three innings. Center fielder Mackenzie Wainwright slapped a one-out single ahead of a base on balls issued to right fielder Hector Candelas. With two outs, catcher Brayden White drew a four-pitch walk to load the bags and bring up Southern Nash High product Jones, a rising senior at North Carolina A&T. Jones unloaded on a 1-1 pitch from Johnson for a grand slam.

Greenville tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a lead-off single by catcher Maddox Miesse, a walk to Cason Eubanks and a sacrifice fly by Gage Griggs off Pacha’s replacement, Marshall Whitmer. A hit batter led to Whitmer’s exit and his replacement, Warren, walked another batter to load the bags again for Herring, who launched his sixth homer of the season for the lead.

Aden Howard and Vanek each had two of the Gnomes’ seven hits while Robinson’s 2-for-4 showing paced Wilson. The Tobs only left two runners on base.

Score by innings:

Tobs 000 400 000 — 4

Yard Gnomes 003 500 000 — 8

W-Hayden Johnson (1-2) 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 SO. L-Brady Pacha (0-2) 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO. S-Riley Marcotte (1) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: A.J. Jones 1-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Cole Robinson 2-4. Greenville: Aden Howard 2-4, 2 R; Jack Herring 1-3, HR, 4 RBIs; J.C. Vanek 2-3, 2B, R, 3 RBIs; Joe Siervo 1-3, 2 R.

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