The SweatSox are one win away from locking up second place in the standings \u2014 and they got there in emphatic fashion Friday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind another explosive offensive start and a complete-game effort from starter Josh Ramage, the SweatSox rolled past the Rockets 13-3 at Kinsmen Field for their third straight mercy-rule victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The win improved the SweatSox to 13-8 on the season, while the Rockets fell to 12-7-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe knew this was going to be a measuring-stick game against a great ball club,\u201d said SweatSox manager Cory Bond. \u201cThe Rockets are one of the toughest teams in the league, so to come out and play the way we did says a lot about this group. Everybody contributed tonight. The bats were relentless, the defense made huge plays, and Josh gave us exactly what we needed on the mound. We\u2019re peaking at the right time, and that\u2019s what you want heading into the postseason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final score hardly reflected how dangerous things looked early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the SweatSox even stepped into the batter\u2019s box, the Rockets had already jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After an intentional walk to Randy Upshall, Rockets slugger John Carbonette crushed a towering double into the gap on the very next pitch, driving in two runs \u2014 including Upshall all the way from first base ?.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rockets threatened for even more moments later when a sharp single up the middle sent Carbonette charging for the plate, but center fielder Trevor Williams fired a strike home to cut him down and end the inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That defensive stand completely shifted the momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SweatSox responded immediately with a relentless attack at the plate, piling up eight runs over the first two innings to seize complete control. The offense never really slowed down, and a five-run sixth inning, capped by an Andrew Hierlihy “walkoff” single, officially slammed the door shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading the charge offensively were Eric White, Williams, and Phil Leduc, who each collected three hits in the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mike Pignat chipped in with a triple and three RBIs, while Ramage helped his own cause with a double and four RBIs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williams, batting second in the order, credited the team\u2019s recent offensive surge to some lineup tinkering by Bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFive straight games with 10 runs or more \u2014 the offense is firing on all cylinders right now,\u201d Williams said with a grin. \u201cAnd it\u2019s probably no coincidence it all started when Cory moved me up in the order. I\u2019m just saying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the mound, Ramage delivered another workhorse performance, tossing a six-inning complete game \u2014 his fifth complete game of the season. Making his 11th start in the club\u2019s 22-game schedule, the right-hander allowed six hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out four to improve to 5-0 on the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the game, Ramage wasn\u2019t lacking confidence when asked about his outing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m one of the greatest athletes of this generation, maybe any generation,\u201d Josh Ramage said. \u201cI throw pitches people can\u2019t even comprehend. Hitters spend all game trying to figure me out, and by the time they do, it\u2019s already over. That\u2019s just elite stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defensively, White turned in another stellar performance at shortstop with a team-high three assists and two putouts in what could be his final regular-season game as the club\u2019s everyday shortstop before moving to a no-swearing league near Toronto next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m definitely going to miss anchoring this infield,\u201d White said. \u201cBut the future of the position is in good hands with the likes of Geoff Nolan now, and eventually Geoff Nolan Jr. laying in wait. The pipeline is strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Rockets, Nick Lenardon, Carbonette, and Max Mueller each doubled in the loss, while slick-fielding shortstop Ty Murphy recorded a game-high four assists defensively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murphy, however, was baffled at the plate after striking out twice against Ramage\u2019s looping high-arching offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I played in Cuba, I never saw pitches like that,\u201d Murphy joked afterward. \u201cI honestly had no idea what was coming out of his hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SweatSox will wrap up their regular season Tuesday night against the Coyotes at Brewer Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n