As the esteemed baseball sage Yogi Berra once said, it was “deja vu all over again” for the Parksville Royals at Springwood Park Saturday afternoon.
Just like the week before, Adam McKilliken started the game and departed with a one-run lead. Once again, the visiting team had the tying run on third base in the seventh and final inning.
And again, reliever Aiden Brot managed to shut the door for the save as the Royals eked out a 2-1 victory over the White Rock Tritons in B.C. Premier Baseball League action.
“It’s like that all the time,” Royals coach Dave Wallace joked. “It’s good entertainment.”
Also repeating the previous week doubleheader split against Nanaimo, the Royals (3-5) settled for one win in two games Saturday as White Rock (1-6) rallied for a 3-0 victory in the second game.
Parksville Royals shortstop Thomas Green stretches to force out White Rock's Cole Walter during B.C. Premier Baseball League play Saturday at Springwood Park. The Royals earned a doubleheader split with the visiting Tritons. — Image credit: J.R. Rardon/PQB NEWS
The Royals will be away this weekend as they travel to the Okanagan for their bi-annual two-day, four-game series with the Athletics.
At Springwood Park Saturday, McKilliken improved to 3-0 by scattering five hits and striking out 10 over six-plus innings. He was lifted and replaced by Brot with a 2-0 lead after issuing his third walk to the leadoff hitter in the seventh.
Brot had a busy inning without ever involving his defense. He walked the bases loaded and walked in the inherited runner for the Tritons’ only score, but also struck out the side, finally getting Nick Kutilin with a swinging strike on a 2-2 count to end it.
“A key is making (batters) put the ball in play,” Wallace said of the combined six walks. “If they execute and get a hit, well, we’ll work on putting the ball on a different part of the plate.”
Royals designated hitter Jaydan Saban provided the big blow, driving in both Parksville runs with a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth inning to score Zach Waddington and Liam Janzen.