Written by Biko Skalla:
If we’ve learned anything from the Banana Ball World Tour, it’s that Bananaland magic is not exclusively found in Historic Grayson Stadium. That continues to be evident this summer as the Bananas improved to a CPL best 6-1 record after a come-from-behind 4-1 win over the Flamingos in the first ever Nanners game in Carolina Bank Field.
Louie, How About the Next 7 Innings, Smith, got the start for Florence and with two down in the first nailed Indiana, Ball Magnet, Stanley, in the thigh. Indy would steal second but then be thrown out trying to steal third to end the frame.
Tyler, I’ll Hop on the Broadcast When I Know We’re Gonna Win, Gillum, and Corey, I’m Trying to Have More Energy in the Dugout than Reggie, Pye, turned to Jestin, The Fort Meyers Marauder, Jones, for the start. Indy and Ty, You Don’t Need to get the Ball out of the Infield to get a Hit, Jackson, both made stellar plays in the outfield to help Jestin toss a scoreless bottom of the first.
Smith and Jones traded scoreless 2nd and 3rd innings, which would be all for Jestin making it eight straight scoreless innings to start his Bananas career.
Florence’s lanky lefty, Louie, kept rolling with two more 1-2-3 innings, to make it 12 straight Bananas retired. The Nanners bullpen countered with the season debut of third year Nanner Nolan, The Greatest Player in Dublin History?, Daniel, who tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
With two outs in the 6th Ty laid down a beautiful push bunt to the right side for the Bananas first hit of the night and then stole second base but Smith got out of the inning unscathed. For the bottom half Dylan, Could have been Worse!, Cunningham, gave up a triple and walk to the first two hitters but got a double play and flyout to keep the damage to just one run.
Louie tossed a scoreless top of the 7th and DC responded with a scoreless bottom half to send the game to the 8th with the Bananas down one. With one out, Landry, Called my Shot, Mead, looped a base hit to center and stole second. Taylor, Speed Kills, Justus, worked a walk and then stole second himself. Then Ty bounced a soft ground ball to shortstop and beat it out, driving in Landry to tie the game at one run apiece. Ty promptly stole second and then Caden, I Should have Parked This, Green, hit a deep sac fly to left to bring in Justus. Drew would work a walk and of course steal second (while Ty also stole 3rd) but the damage for the inning would stop at two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Andy, Rec Specs are SO BACK, Booth, threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th to make it seven scoreless innings to begin his career as a Nanner.
Looking for some insurance in the 9th, Bryson, This is My Only At-Bat that I’d like to Discuss Tonight, Bloomer, worked a one-out walk and Armando, Guess What I’m Gonna Do, Becerra, pinch ran and promptly stole second. Brody, I’d like to Thank Zack Frongillo for this Hit, Wortham, lined a base hit up the middle to bring in Mondo. Brody obviously stole second and then got to third on a wild pitch. Landry then worked a walk and you’d be a fool to think he didn’t steal second, because he did then in fact steal second. Ty would earn a free pass of his own and Peanut walked as well to push in Wortham to make it 4-1.
Tyler, Fuzzmaster Flex, Bradt, struck out the side for his first save of the summer to secure the 3-2 win, as the Bananas improved to a league best 6-1 on the season.
The Nanners stole 11 bases in 12 attempts and took a 1.5 game lead over the Hi-Toms in the CPL West.
We’ll have a rematch tonight in Grayson Stadium with the pregame show kicking off at 6:00pm eastern and first pitch at 7:00. Hop into Bananas Insiders to catch all the action, as the Bananas are now one step through a wild run of 12 games in 13 days!
