Eight-run fifth helps Merchants top Spirit

The Abbotsford Merchants picked up their second win of the season on Sunday, defeating the Spirit Twins 13-1 in seven innings. Starting pitcher JV Castillo and the rest of the Merchants defense held the visiting Twins to just one hit in the blowout victory.

Castillo cruised through Spirit’s lineup, pitching six solid innings for the home team. The only frame that gave the Merchant’s starter any pause was the top of the fourth. With the score still knotted at 0-0, a walk and a hit batsman gave the Twins runners at first and second with one out. A single up the middle during the following at-bat drove in one run for the visiting squad, breaking the tie and giving them a 1-0 advantage.

Castillo and the Merchants defense managed to limit the damage to just the single run, but after being shut out over the first three innings, the lineup had some work to do.

The Merchants bats did just that, responding in the bottom half of the fourth. Blake Bargender started the inning by reaching first on an error by the Twins and Payton Schreiber followed with a single to give Abbotsford runners on the corners. Bargender took home on a wild pitch during the following at-bat, tying the game. Spirit compounded the issue by committing another error on the play, as an overthrow at the plate allowed Schreiber to score as well. The two runs scored gave the home team their first lead of the game, one that they would not relinquish.

Dillon Kramas knocked in another run later in the inning with an RBI single and a bases loaded walk made the score 4-1.

After Castillo silenced Spirit in the top of the fifth, the Merchants seized the opportunity to put the game out of reach. Abbotsford batted around in the bottom half of the frame, doubling their offensive output from the fourth inning by putting up eight runs in the fifth. After struggling to make solid contact early, the Merchants finally seemed to put things together, stringing together singles to drive up the score. Castillo, Bargender, Aaron Morrow, Marco Olvera and Chance Clement each had RBI singles in the inning.

The Merchants added another run in the sixth, taking a 13-1 lead. Schreiber came on in relief of Castillo in the seventh and closed out the game by striking out three batters.

Abbotsford’s lineup accumulated 14 hits and drew four walks over the seven inning contest while the defense only committed one error. Meanwhile, Spirit’s six errors proved to be costly, with many of them coming in the Merchants’ two big innings.

Castillo came away with the win, finishing the game with nine strikeouts in his six innings of work. He only surrendered one hit and walked three batters. Schreiber also walked one in his one inning of relief work on the mound, though he did not give up a hit.

Morrow and Schreiber led the team on offense, both collecting three hits in the contest. Schreiber scored two runs while Morrow also scored twice and batted in a pair. Clement went a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate and collected two RBIs.

The Merchants showed off their team speed by swiping eight bases on Sunday. Noah Robida led the club with three stolen bases.