Tobs ‘split’ with Peppers on Fourth

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. — Despite not playing at Fleming Stadium on a Thursday night, the Wilson Tobs at least were able to end their losing streak — sort of — in a Fourth of July mini-doubleheader against the Tri-City Chili Peppers in their Shepherd Stadium.

Wilson closed out the Chili Peppers, 4-1, in the resumption of the teams’ suspended game from Sunday, June 30, at Shepherd before bowing 5-1 to the Chili Peppers in the seven-inning game that was originally scheduled for nine innings.

The Tobs, who have lost four straight on the schedule, dropped to 5-4 in the Coastal Plain League’s second half. Wilson, 20-13 overall, is tied with the Greenville Yard Gnomes (4-3) for second place in the East Division, two games behind the first-half champion Peninsula Pilots (6-1). Tri-City won for the first time in five second-half games.

The Tobs couldn’t solve the Tri-City mound trio of starter Matt Gaither, Drew Hurst and Marcus VanAlstine, which combined on the two-hitter. Gaither (1-1), a left-hander from UNC Wilmington, pitched four shutout innings to get the win.

Hurst worked two innings, allowing a run, before VanAlstine set the Tobs down in order in the seventh for his first save.

Wilson’s run came largely on the legs of left fielder Hector Candelas, who singled to lead off the sixth. After stealing second, Candelas advanced to third and scored on a pair of wild pitches by Hurst.

The Tobs threatened in the fourth inning when Cole Robinson drew a one-out walk from Gaither and catcher Jerry Barnes poked a two-out single. Center fielder Mike Kelly coaxed a six-pitch walk to load the bases before right fielder Dawerlyn Amancio’s pop-up ended the inning.

The Chili Peppers didn’t waste their chance in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on three hits — all with two outs — against Tobs relievers Josh Wise, who took over for starter Kaden McCawley in the second, and Brett Anderson. Wise (1-1) gave up all three runs on two hits and two walks while Anderson allowed an RBI single to bring in one of Wise’s runners.

The Chili Peppers added two more runs in the sixth on back-to-back solo home runs by center fielder Michael Dolberry and first baseman Eli Weisner against Wilson’s fourth pitcher, Sebastian Khan.

Weisner was 2 for 2 with two RBI for Tri-City, which only had five hits.

In the completion of the suspended game, Jonah Milchuck (2-2) got the pitching win for Wilson while outfielder Mackenzie Wainwright’s CPL-leading 10th homer, a two-run shot, became official. Kelly also had an RBI double and later scored in the second.

The Tobs head to Martinsville, Virginia, on Friday to take on the Mustangs before hosting Martinsville on Saturday at Fleming with a fireworks display to follow.

The CPL All-Star break begins Sunday with the game set for Monday in Forest City. The second-half action resumes Wednesday, July 10, with a visit to Peninsula for the Tobs.

Score by innings:

Tobs 000 001 0 — 1

Chili Peppers 000 302 x — 5

W-Matt Gaither (1-1) 4 IP< 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 SO. L-Josh Wise (1-1) 2 1/3 IP< 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO. S-Marcus VanAlstine (1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: Hector Candelas 1-3, R, SB; Jerry Barnes 1-2. Tri-City: Eli Weisner 2-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs; Michael Dolberry 1-2, HR, RBI; Alex Christie 1-2, RBI; Zion Taylor 1-2, RBI.

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