Chester Bird drops another one-run decision

Marcus Barone tossed a three-hitter at

Excelsior.

Marcus Barone gave Chester Bird it's second consecutive three-hit pitching performance but, for the second night in a row, it wasn't enough as Excelsior scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh for a 2-1 victory.
Although The Birds wasted Jimmy Heck's three-hitter last night with a one-hit effort from their offense, tonight's game was a different story as they collected eight hits but saw three runners thrown out on the base paths.

In the first two innings, Barone needed just 13 pitches to get six outs as he and Excelsior pitcher Brad Touhey worked quickly.

The hosts got to Barone for a run in the third inning when Andrew Weber singled to center and Alex LaPorte raced home from second base, beating a throw from center fielder Robby Sutherland.

Barone would then cruise through the next three innings while Weber got help from his defense, which threw out one runner trying to steal, another runner at third base and one at home.

Chester Bird finally reached Touhey in the seventh inning when Jimmy Heck ripped a triple to right-center field. One out later, Gabe MacDonald doubled down the left field line to tie the score before Touhey got out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts.

Sam Warner led off the home half of the seventh inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Bjorn Hansen was hit by a pitch. Tommy Hoopes followed with a groundball to Heck at third. His throw to second retired Hansen but Joe Melles' relay throw to first was wide of the mark and Warner came home with the winning run.

Barone, who fell to 3-2 with the loss, allowed three walks and struckout three in a 96-pitch effort. Touhey, who gave up eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five while needing just 77 pitches to work a complete game.

The Birds now host one of 14 pool play sites in the Gopher Classic, which gets underway Friday. Chester Bird opens with back-to-back games, Friday, facing Andover at 3:30 p.m. and Forest Lake at 6 p.m.