The weekend may have started out soggy and gray, but by midday Saturday, a high-pressure system seemd to have developed directly over the Arcata Ball Park, pushing the clouds away and bathing the field in sunlight while rain still fell over much of Humboldt County. And the Crabs took full advantage, sweeping a three-game set from the NorCal Longhorns and surging to the top of the Far West League standings.
Tanner McIntyre certainly didn't seem to mind having his start pushed back a day. He allowed just two hits in seven innings of work in Saturday's opener, a 4-0 victory, and has now gone 16 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Zach Reser pitched the last two innings and yielded just one more hit.
The Crabs scored all four of their runs in the third. Ty Afenir and Bradley Zimmer both delivered run-scoring hits.
In the nightcap, under a sometimes brilliant fire-red sky, the foursome of Drew Bradshaw, Jimmy MacWilliam, Evan Ewing and Tyler Stirewalt put up the Crabs' second shutout of the day in a 9-0 win. The Crabs offense took advantage of five Longhorns errors. Jared Deacon, Zach McCoy and Andrew Rodriguez each drove in two runs.
On Sunday, the Longhorns put up more of a fight, but the home team was still too much and finished the sweep 5-3. The Crabs unloaded the bullpen in the game to help starter Johnny Melero earn his second win. Nick Latta slammed his first homer of the year, and Zimmer and Spencer Duggan both stayed hot, igniting rallies in the early innings.
On Wednesday, the Crabs play their first scheduled doubleheader of the season, a 5:30 p.m. twinbill against the East Bay Lumberjacks. Hope to see you there!
