North Adams, MA - When the Blue Sox needed a big win, Stanford pitcher Jordan Kutzer delivered on Wednesday night throwing his first complete game of the season.
Kutzer (1-1) had the Steeplecats number all night long allowing only three hits while walking two and striking out three en route to a 2-0 victory.
“First time throwing to (Dillon) Hamlin,” Kutzer said. “All I said was keep the ball down. We pounded the zone. In the late innings I found my slider. We had some good plays behind me.”
The Blue Sox (19-22) gained a half game on the fourth place Saratoga Brigade to pull into a tie with them for the final playoff slot out of the Western Division.
Holyoke got the scoring going in the fourth inning when the Blue Sox Matt Reida, who walked with one out in the frame, came into score on a Sal Annunziata double making it 1-0.
Annunziata would later come in and score on a single from Grant Heyman pushing the lead to 2-0, which would all Kutzer would need.
The Steeplecats (21-21) could not get anything going the rest of the night as they only collected two hits the rest of the game from the fourth inning forward.
Holyoke is back in action on Thursday in a doubleheader against the Vermont Mountaineers at Mackenzie Stadium.
It will be Fan Appreciation Day at the ballpark so there will be giveaways each inning, special discounts and other surprises for the fans.
One ticket gets the fans into both games.
The Blue Sox and Mountaineers will play two seven inning games with the first game set for a 5 p.m. first pitch with the gates opening at 4 p.m.