The Hawks were generous hosts on Tuesday spotting the Shasta Knights a 2-0 lead after 4 innings managing just one hit to that point, a two out triple from Trevor Ray in the bottom of the frame.
Coach Bloomfield knew it might be a tough game in advance, " they are a 2 and something team coming in with nothing to lose and our guys didn't play well hitting, or pitching. We just hung around long enough to get the win."
The Hawks finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth without even getting a hit. Billy Rockefeller got it started with a walk, one of eleven the Hawks would collect on the day. The power hitting firstbaseman stole second base, his first of the year. Knights pitcher Colton Matzke then helped the Hawks cause by balking Rockefeller to third and subsequently allowing him to score on another balk for the Hawks first run.
The Hawks got their second run in just as simple of a fashion as John Treat singled with two outs. Ray walked moving Treat to second before Brett Bloomfield walked to load the bases. Brian Morley took one for the team getting hit by a Tristan McIntyre pitch forcing in Treat and a 2-2 tie.
That set the stage for the bottom of the ninth inning. The Hawks put together a rally small in size, but huge in momentum. Bloomfield led off with a single before advancing to second on an error by the Knights pitcher. Morley grounded out to third keeping Bloomfield at second and Rockefeller knew he just missed a homer, "I got under it just a little and had a beautiful moonshot of an out, I'm just glad Brooksy picked me up after that."
That he did as Brooks Day lined a single to right scoring Bloomfield for the win, "It was a huge win for us considering how we played and needing to be ready for the next two series (against Delta and Santa Rosa) we have to play. we knew over the winter these would be make or break games for us as they usually are. All we gotta do is play Coaches way and we'll be fine."
Thomas Galart, who had relieved Daniel Vitoria who also pitched well in his relief stint, with one out in the top of the sixth, continued his excellent pitching this year ultimately going 3.2 innings giving up two hits and two walks as he picked up his third win in three decisions on the year. Galart now has a next to microscopic era of 1.04 in his seven appearances over the 26 innings he has thrown.
As to this year's secret, Galart knows it's within, " I'm don't think it's any one thing, maybe all of it put together. I just know I have to stay on top of my mechanics and the good outings will be there."
Even catcher Francisco Prado has seen the improvement, " it may be the repetition and his mechanics, I'm not really sure, but this I do know about him, he's my roommate and I know how hard he worked over the summer, he's worked to get himself in the place he's at, no surprise to me."
The Hawks had five players with one hit apiece as Ray's triple was the only extra base hit. Bloomfield, Day, Treat, and Damien Chavez all had singles in the Hawks win.
With the win the Hawks are now 12-6 on the year and next up will be a three game set against San Joaquin Delta starting on Tuesday the 14th here at CRC at 2:30 pm. Thursday's game on the 16th will be at Delta at 2:30 pm, while the series ends at CRC on Saturday the 18th at 1pm.