A’s bats silenced

Hays, Ks (westernkansasnews)-Dodge City head coach Michael Robbins emphasized the importance of his team getting league wins this late in the season-especially away from home. The result: a 5-2 loss to Hays at Larks Park on Tuesday night. 

“We just could never get that key hit; that two-out hit,” Robbins said. “It will come-it just wasn’t there tonight.”

The pitching wasn’t there either-at least early on. Starter Hayden Carter was tagged for four runs on six hits before being replaced by Cody Brown in the 4th. 

Brown was solid in middle relief. He allowed just one run, scattered five hits and struck out two in four innings.

“He (Brown) had an awesome night on the mound for us,” Robbins said. “He did a good job of shutting things down; gave us a chance to get back in the game.”

Hays (17-6) got on the board first when Clayton Garland crushed a one-out solo shot off of Carter in the 1st. Hays would then load the bases with two outs before Carter got Zair Koeiman to fly out to center field. 

In the 2nd-an error by third basemen Dillon Engelhart allowed Desmond Roberts to score, giving the Larks a 2-0 lead. 

Hays would load the bases again in the 3rd, when Ty Gilmore ripped a two-out, two-run single to put Hays up 4-0. 

The Larks would plate one more run in the 4th when Mackenzie Handel’s single scored Jake Placzek.

Dodge City (10-16, 5-14) was held without a hit until Woody Drexler laced a lead-off double off of Larks starter Nick Goza. In fact the A’s had a tough time figuring out the Larks’ hurler all night. Goza allowed just two runs on three hits in a complete-game performance. 

A’s scored their two runs in the 6th on Brian Mills RBI double and Louis Diaz’s RBI ground out. 

Next up: Wednesday, July 3 vs. Hays