Riverdogs rack up runs in double-header with Sox

It would have been a bad day to be an insect living under home plate at Amundson Park in Plains this past Sunday.

Your world would have been shaken by a steady thumping on the roof of your underground home, otherwise known as home plate.

During one of a few home appearances by Clark Fork Valley Riverdogs Legion baseball team, the hosts danced on home plate 29 times in 13 innings of baseball.

And in the process of sweeping a double header from the Bitterroot Red Sox (Hamilton) by 14-3 and 15-14 counts, the Riverdogs would have made life miserable for anything living under the plate.

The double-dip home sweep capped a busy week for the Dogs, who came out of a tough stretch with a very respectable 15-11 season record. They opened the five-game stretch this past Wednesday with a disappointing 8-5 road loss to the Missoula Impact after trailing 8-0 with two innings to play.

Next on the agenda were the Kalispell Lakers who were held in check by pitchers Nate Zigler and Trenis McDonald as Clark Fork took the first game of the double-header 4-3. Kalispell then came back from a 9-1 Riverdogs lead in the nightcap of the twin bill and held on for a 12-11 win and a series split.

Then, after weeks of road games, the Riverdogs overcame rain and threatening skies to grab a pair from Bitterroot.

In the first game of the Sunday afternoon double header, Clark Fork got a solid pitching performance from Jody Page who opened the game by striking out the Red Sox in order in the top of the first inning.

Page would go on to fan seven in his six innings of work. His performance was crucial in helping head coach Jon Zigler and staff cope with some “tired arms” as the pitching staff racked up lots of pitches during the first half of the season.

But Page was up to the task, with help from an unexpected source. Prior to the game it did not look as though one of the Dogs leading hitters, Orion Plakke would be able to play after suffering a possible broken bone in his right hand.

Plakke was inserted into the lineup as the designated hitter and went two for three from the plate, including a two-RBI triple in the fourth inning that was a key part of a six-run Riverdogs outburst.

The Dogs took an early 2-0 lead when they took advantage of a hit batter, two walks and a two-run Red Sox throwing error. After surrendering a solo run in the top of the third, the Riverdogs tacked on another two runs in the bottom of the inning to up their lead to 4-1.

Bitterroot cut that lead to 4-2 in their half of the fourth, but the Riverdogs came roaring back in the bottom of inning number four, pushing six runs across the plate as they took a commanding 10-2 lead.

Another solo Red Sox run in the top of the fifth reduced the Riverdogs advantage to 10-3, but they scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the sixth as the 10-run Mercy rule was declared, giving Clark Fork the 14-3 win.

Game two of the double header was a treat for fans who like to see a lot of runs scored.

The Riverdogs shook off a three-run top of the first inning by Bitterroot by scoring six runs in the bottom of the initial frame to go up 6-3. Red Sox pitching surrendered four walks, hit two Clark Fork batters and endured a two-run double by Bryson McCormick in the Dogs first inning assault.

Clark Fork added another run in the bottom of the second inning, stretching their lead to 7-3. However, Bitterroot bounced back in the top of the third with four runs on a Dogs error, two walks and a pair of RBI singles, tying the game at seven each.

Bitterroot then grabbed a brief lead in the top of inning number four when they got another RBI single to go up 8-7.

Then it was time for a Riverdogs explosion, which resulted in the home team scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, led by a two-run single from Jack Taylor. At the end of four, Clark Fork had built a 14-8 lead.

Bitterroot cut the lead to 14-9 with a single run in the top of the fifth inning, then, after holding the Dogs scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, the Red Sox had a run explosion of their own as five runs crossed the plate in the top half of the sixth.

The Red Sox took advantage of three straight walks by Clark Fork pitching to open the inning, which saw two of those base runners eventually score on wild pitches. They would load the bases again later in the inning and watched as two of those runners scored on RBI singles.

At that point, heading into the bottom of the sixth, the score was knotted at 14-14.

After drawing a walk to lead off the home half of the inning, Nate Zigler stole second base, then scored when Page got on base via an errant Red Sox throw.

Heading into the top of the seventh, Clark Fork was clinging to a 15-14 lead. But a key and timely double play in the top of the seventh helped keep the Red Sox off the scoreboard and allowed the Dogs to complete the two game sweep.

Pitchers from both teams walked a total of 17 batters during the game.

The wins in the five game stretch allowed the Riverdogs to build a 15-11 season record with a tough road double-header this Tuesday evening in Polson against the red-hot Mission Valley Mariners next up on their schedule. The Dogs are also scheduled to play a two-game road set versus the North Idaho Lakers Wednesday evening, then have road games against the Missoula Impact and the Kootenay Valley Rangers on tap for this coming Saturday.