BEACH BUMS BEGIN SECOND HALF WITH WIN

7/16/2010 - TRAVERSE CITY, MI –- The Traverse City Beach Bums scored seven runs in the fourth through seventh innings as the Beach Bums got the second half of the season off on the right foot with an 8-5 win over the Kalamazoo Kings. Ryan Platt (6-1), pictured here, struck out seven, pushing his league leading total to 72. John L. Russell photograph.

The Kings got on the board in the first inning as three singles and a couple of stolen bases netted Kalamazoo a pair of runs. Traverse City got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning when Matt Brown walked, stole both second and third and came in to score on a Chase Burch groundout, slicing the lead to 2-1.

The Beach Bums took their first lead of the night in the third inning as with one out, Brown walked again with one out. Michael Diaz followed with a single to move Brown to third. Diaz promptly stole second to put two runners in scoring position for J. T. Hall who singled back through the middle to score both runners and put TC up 3-2.

The lead would expand in the fifth when with two on and one out, Chase Burch drove a double into the right-centerfield gap, plating Jason Codiroli and Michael Diaz to go up 5-2. Three more runs came on the board in the eighth for TC, pushing the lead to six.

Kalamazoo would tack on a couple runs late with two in the eighth and one in the ninth to create the final score.

The win went to Ryan Platt (6-1) who, after surrendering the pair of first inning runs, allowed just four hits the rest of the way, striking out seven, pushing his league leading total to 72. The righthander worked out of his biggest jam in the top of the fifth when Kalamazoo loaded the bases with no outs for the middle of their lineup. Platt got Matt Maloney to pop up to second base and Brendan Murphy to ground into a double play to escape with nothing across. Josh Whitlock (0-6) took the loss for the Kings.

Offensively, Burch drove in three for the Beach Bums lifting himself into second in the FL in RBI with 42. Matt Brown walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs. Also crossing the plate twice were Michael Diaz and Jason Codiroli.

Traverse City continues their series with the Kings on Saturday night where it will be Star Wars Night and a Silent Auction Saturday as the Beach Bums auction off autographed baseball gloves with the proceeds benefiting Child and Family Services. Jonny Bravo (1-0, 2.31) goes to the mound for the Beach Bums against Bernard Robert (0-6, 3.98) for the Kalamazoo Kings. For more information or tickets, call 231-943-0100 or visit tcbeachbums.com.