It was a rough day for anyone named Aaron Thompson, but the Canberra Cavalry covered for their starting and closing pitchers to extend their lead at the top of the Australian Baseball League.
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The Cavalry offence sparked to life and received fantastic support from their relief pitchers in a 12-7 victory against the Adelaide Bite at the Narrabundah Ballpark.
The 3-1 series win over the Bite lifts the Cavalry to 16-8 for the season and gives them a three-and-a-half game advantage over the Perth Heat and Brisbane Bandits.
The fourth starting spot is still a concern for the Cavalry after Australian pitcher Aaron J Thompson gave up three runs and five hits before he was replaced after 1.2 innings.
His namesake Aaron M Thompson came into the game in the ninth inning with the Cavalry holding a commanding 12-3 lead.
But having leaked four runs and committed a couple of fielding errors, the former Minnesota Twins reliever was taken out, with Thursday night's starter Brian Grening called in to secure the final out of the game.
Cavalry manager Michael Collins was keen to give Aaron M Thompson some time on the mound after the American joined the team this week.
"It's a situation where he hasn't pitched in a game since the end of the season," Collins said.
"He pitched two innings the other night and we asked him to come out in short rest. He just didn't look comfortable, didn't quite have that release, but on the positive side we got him into the two games and we've got Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday off to have him ready for Perth on Thursday."
Collins praised the performance of his bullpen as Scott Cone, Colton Turner (win, 2-1), Michael Click and Wade Korpi kept the clamps on the Bite after the early damage.
"They were phenomenal," Collins said. "I was really pumped for Turner and Korpi, Cone as well, his first time on the roster, to keep us in it. Hopefully that's something they can roll into next week on the road."
The Cavalry were red-hot with the bat.
Cavalry catcher Ryan Miller went three from five with four runs batted in, short-stop Jason Leblebijian had another couple of hits to improve his batting average to .389 and right fielder Derrick Loveless got on base all five times.
Leblebijian said the team's momentum was due to the pitchers keeping them in games.
"We've struggled quite a bit on Sundays, so hopefully we can keep it rolling," Leblebijian said. "Our pitchers have been setting the tone for us and as hitters we don't have do too much. It's all gelling together right now."
ABL: Canberra Cavalry 12 bt Adelaide Bite 7 at Narrabundah Ballpark on Sunday.
