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With sole possession of first place in the MINK League’s North Division at stake, Ben Baker put on a workmanlike pitching performance in his first mound start of the season, but was victimized by three St. Joseph errors in the Mustangs’ 4-3 loss to the Chillicothe Mudcats on Wednesday night.
The Mustangs fell to 14-8 in the MINK League (17-9 overall) in wrapping up a five-game road trip, while the Mudcats (13-8, 10-7 MINK) captured the division lead.
Chillicothe put on a 13-hit performance in capturing the victory.
Mustangs jumped out to a one-run lead in the top of the second when Johnny Coy hit a single to right field, scoring Houston Slemp.
However, the lead was short-lived, as Baker walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the second with two outs. Then, Sam Lind bobbled a grounder by the Mudcats’ Darian Sandford, evening the game at one a piece. Immediately following Sandford’s RBI, Justin Schultz drove in another run, giving the Mudcats their first lead of the game.
“I was extremely happy with Ben’s (Baker) performance tonight,” Mustangs manager Matt Johnson said. “One hundred-five pitches for a guy that hasn’t started a game all year is above and beyond what I expected out of (Baker).”
The Mustangs were unable to execute down the stretch, leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings.
“We didn’t do enough offensively by driving runners in when we left 12 runners on base,” Johnson said. “We didn’t have the clutch hitting and we made errors in big situations.”
Tony Nix of the Mudcats drove in another in the fourth only to get caught in a rundown after trying to stretch a double into a triple, giving the Mudcats a 3-1 lead.
The Mustangs’ Brent Siefert doubled to right field, scoring Ryan Hook in the top of the seventh. After giving up two runs, Mudcats starting pitcher Matt Lackner was replaced by lefty Scott Limbocker, who maintained the 3-2 lead by striking out Houston Slemp.
In the bottom of the eighth Johnson decided to bring in Dominic Marchesi, who immediately gave up a single to Schultz and scored Bryan Mason giving the Mudcat’s the final lead of the game.
The Mustangs wrapped up their five-game road trip with three wins and two losses.
“We were 2-5 on the road before this road trip,” Johnson said. “I am not happy with the loss, but I think this is a mark in the right direction.”
The Mustangs return to action at Phil Welch Stadium at 7 tonight against Sedalia.
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