HAYS – Wyatt Divis hit a three-run homer and Leo Jiminian a grand slam to highlight the Hays Larks 10-run third inning as they cruised to a 12-2, seven inning run-rule victory over the Colorado Rough Riders Monday night at Larks Park.
The Rough Riders (5-12, 4-10 RMBL) grabbed the early lead on a two-run home run from Hayden Luff in the top of the first. The Larks (23-4, 11-2 RMBL) tied the game with two in the second then blew it open in the third as they pushed their winning streak to 11 games.
Starting pitcher Cade Brown (3-0) allowed only one hit over four innings after giving up the homer in the first and picked up the win. The Oklahoma product struck out a season-high nine and walked none. Wyatt Divis pitched the final two innings of relief and struck out six.
Grant Schmidt tripled to center to leadoff the second and scored the Larks first run on a wild pitch. Cortland Lawson followed with a single to right and scored the tying run on Palmer Hutchison’s sacrifice fly to center.
Zach Henry led off the decisive third inning with a four-pitch walk. Matt Cavanagh singled to left then Divis hit a line drive over the right field wall to give the Larks the lead for good. Singles from Schmidt, Sam Crowell and a walk to Grant Lung set the stage for Jiminian’s opposite field grand slam. Divis would drive in another run with a single and Cortland Lawson added a sacrifice fly to round out the scoring.
Divis and Jiminian both drove in four runs, Divis, Schmidt and Jiminian all had two of the Larks 12 hits.
MAGIC NUMBER IS 2
The Larks can clinch their second straight Rocky Mountain Baseball League title in their second year in the league with a doubleheader sweep of the Rough Riders on Tuesday. Monday's win dropped their Magic Number to two.
SUMMER SLAM
Leo Jiminian’s third inning grand slam was the Larks fourth of the season. Dylan Dreiling, Grant Lung and Sam Crowell have also homered with the bases loaded this season. Current Lark Cam Pehrson hit the Larks only grand slam last season. Hays now has hit 11 grand slams over the last five seasons.
11 IN-A-ROW
The Larks have won their last 11 games. It's matches an 11-game win streak they had in 2013. The Larks won 12 straight in 2019 and 2014 and 13 straight in 2003.
GIVING UP RUNS
The Rough Riders have allowed their opponents to score 10 or more runs in 10 of their 17 games this summer.
UP NEXT
The Larks and Rough Riders play two on Wednesday beginning at 5:30 p.m. The two teams close out the four-game RMBL series with a single game Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. That game can be hear on KAYS (1400-AM, 94.2-FM).