Thursday, June 11, 2009

Goodenow's homer propels Dans to win

Richie Goodenow's three-run homer in his Dans debut led Danville a 6-3 win over Hannibal on Thursday evening at Danville Stadium.

Goodenow's blast over the right-field wall came in a big fourth inning for the Dans. The inning started with back-to-back singles from Dabo Worthington and Ryan Van Amburg. Cody Yount then followed with a walk to load the bases, and Worthington scored the first Danville run on a wild pitch. With runners at second and third, Jason Hamm grounded a ball back to the mound, prompting Van Amburg to be tagged out in a rundown between third and home despite it appearing that he was interfered with. That made Dans fans angry, but the tide quickly turned when Goodenow homered to put the Dans ahead 4-3.

Matt Smith got the win for Danville, throwing five innings and allowing three runs - two earned - on five hits while striking out four. Justin Amblung was terrific in relief of Smith, holding the Caveman scoreless in three innings on one hit while striking out five. Ryan Cabral walked two men in the ninth inning to load the bases after an error, but he picked up the save by catching Hannibal's Matt Burton looking on a called third strike.

It didn't look good for Danville early, as the Caveman scored three runs in the first three innings. Hannibal used four hits, including two infield hits and a bloop single to shallow right field, to score twice in the second inning. The Caveman added a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Matt Gaudet after two Danville errors put runners on second and third. Both team's defenses were shaky in the contest, as Danville made four errors and Hannibal made three.

Hannibal would not score in the last six innings, and Danville got a couple insurance runs in the fifth inning on Hamm's two-out, two-run single to center that made the score 6-3.

Frankie Rawdow, Worthington and Van Amburg each had two hits for the Dans. Hamm had two RBIs and Goodenow, who attends Vanderbilt, had three. Worthington scored twice. Hannibal's Roy Metter was hit hard, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.

With the win, Danville improves to 4-3 on the season. The Dans next game is at home Friday night against the division-leading Quincy Gems.

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