Monroe 11th inning triple spoils Hoplite 9th inning comeback; Roses win 7-6

Game 2 (1 vs 8)
Sparta Hoplites @ Lancaster Red Roses

At least some of the games are close?  After having swept all Game 1's, the LOB crew is at it again, sweeping all game 2's.  This contest between the Hoplites and Red Roses was particularly close, but ultimately Lancaster won it in the 11th on a John McGraw single and Bill Monroe triple.

It appeared the story of the game was going to be another LOB blowout, however, the Hoplites caught a spark late scoring 4 runs in the 7th to take a 5-3 lead.  It didn't last long though.  Lancaster scored two in the bottom half of the 7th and plated the go ahead run in the 8th on a Willie McCovery pinch hit home run.

Fighting for their lives, Sparta tied it up in the top of the 9th in wild inning.  Bruce Sutter came in for the save but soon loaded the bases with nobody out.  Arky Vaughn sacrificed home the tying run and Sutter walked Big Ed Delahanty to load the bases again.  Alas, Babe Herman and Derek Lee couldn't drive anyone in and the contest headed to extra innings.

There, things remained tied until McGraw and Monroe teamed up for the winning run in the bottom of the 11th.

The series moves to Sparta for game three.  Bill Bernhard (15-6, 3.47) will try and give the Red Roses a commanding 3-0 lead while John Denny (7-7, 3.41) will have the weight of ATB on his shoulders.

Starting Pitchers
Shantz - 6.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Faber -- 6.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K