The Brazos Valley Bombers drew their best start of the year from pitcher Casey Whitmer Wednesday night, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the visiting Denton Outlaws as the Bombers fell, 4-0.
Whitmer pitched six stellar innings, surrendering five hits and no runs while striking out 11. But he was locked in a pitching duel with Outlaws starter Steven Maxwell, who went five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven.
Scooter Hicks relieved Whitmer to open the seventh inning and immediately ran into trouble. The Outlaws put the leadoff batter on by way of a Joseph Towns error, then scored the first run of the game when Hicks threw away a bunt single. Denton then played small ball, sacrificing the runner to second, stealing third, then bringing him home with a bunt single.
The Outlaws put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth when Tyler Warmerdam drove in Adam Albright offering over the left field fence for a two-run homer.
Even though the Bombers struggled at the plate for the first half of the game, they were not without their chances. Brazos Valley loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning – which happens to be the Caldwell Country Chevrolet $25,000 Grand Slam Inning. Despite potential riches for one lucky fan, both Kyle Sisney and TJ Mittelstaedt struck out to end the threat.
The Bombers put a pair of runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings as well, then had a runner in scoring position with one out in the eighth, but they failed to push a run across the plate.
The lone hitting standout for the B’s was first baseman Will Basom, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
The Bombers complete their brief two-game homestand Thursday night when the Weatherford Wranglers visit Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark. Thursday marks the second Bombers Thirsty Thursday of the season, featuring 50-cent 16-ounce soft drinks and one dollar 12-ounce draft beers, sponsored by Jack FM.