Garnet Garage pitcher Kade Farrell extends to deliver a pitch during a game against Northern Driveline Thursday at Stanton Field. He struck out 12 to earn the win. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

STANTON — For the third time in their last three games, Garnet Garage earned a win where one big inning made all the difference. The leaders of Twilight League know that they are playing for home field advantage, and they are battling hard for it. Thursday, they scored four runs in the first inning and a pair of insurance runs in a 6-3 win over Northern Driveline at Stanton Field.

Eight of Garnet Garage’s nine batters took swings in that opening inning, and that made a huge difference in the game, as it put Northern Driveline on their heels right away. Player-coach Kevin Bostwick continued to point to how his team is approaching the game at the plate.

“We’re stringing the hits together,” he said. “Our offense has kind of been the question mark all year. But, these last couple, we’ve found a way to put up an inning, and that’s been enough, because we’ve had great pitching.

“Every year that’s kind of been our calling card is good pitching and good defense, and we’re doing enough right now offensively.”

Garnet Garage leads Twilight League with a record of 9-1 thanks to Thursday’s win. They hold a four-game advantage over Northern Driveline, who fell to 5-5 with the loss.

“It’s kind of tough,” said Bostwick. “We had a good week, and you still have a couple regular season games that standings-wise don’t matter, because there’s nowhere we can go.

“So, it’s kind of just the idea of trying to stay locked in. Obviously, we’re going to be missing guys for playoffs, so (the focus needs to be just) getting the guys that are going to be here for playoffs games back in the rotation, and just keep playing baseball.”

Of course, along with the offense, baseball teams are always striving for good defense and strong pitching. After getting strong efforts on Tuesday from Coy Budweg and Chris Saari, Garnet Garage turned to Kade Farrell on Thursday, and he did not disappoint.

Farrell rang up 12 strikeouts, including three in the bottom of the first and eight through the first four innings. He also held Northern Driveline to just seven hits.

“Just phenomenal, throwing strikes, keeping them off balance,” Bostwick said. “It’s still a couple games left to clinch that home field going into playoffs, because we love playing at our field. So great that Kade had that performance.”

Bostwick knows his team will need pitching like they have received this week to have success in the playoffs. Along with the strong pitching, Bostwick has been proud of the way his team has stepped up defensively, even when players are tasked with playing secondary positions.

“The other thing, too, about that is several pitchers, and then guys in the field moving around, and still being sufficient, which is huge,” he said, “because obviously, playing a different position every night. I could throw some curve balls at you, but like I said, the pitching’s been phenomenal. It’s been our calling card for years now and we’re going to continue leaning on it.”

For Northern Driveline, pitcher Owen Kariniemi struggled in the first inning, but settled in after that, only allowing eight more baserunners all game.

That first inning saw Garnet Garage jump out quickly thanks to a Farrell lead off single to center field. Bostwick, who was playing third base, reached on a fielder’s choice. Center fielder Eli Heathman then walked. Catcher Mike Saari singled to center field, scoring Bostwick. First baseman Chris Saari then singled to center field, scoring Heathman.

Shortstop Gaborik Carlson singled to right field to bring Mike Saari home before second baseman Jackson VonDoloski sacrificed to bring Chris Saari home.

The game remained 4-0 in favor of Garnet Garage into the fifth before Heathman led off with a double to the right field fence. Mike Saari walked. Chris Saari laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position before Carlson sacrificed to bring Heathman home.

Northern Driveline, who was playing with only two regulars in the lineup, finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Darin Berg doubled to center field. Shortstop Robert Hill reached on a fielder’s choice, while Berg was tagged trying for third. Kariniemi drew a walk. First baseman Peter Kruse then doubled to the center field fence, scoring Hill and Kariniemi, and cutting Garnet Garage’s lead from five to three runs, 5-2.

Looking for an insurance run, Garnet Garage got it in the top of the seventh. Heathman singled to right field to lead off. Mike Saari sacrificed to move Heathman to second base. A passed ball allowed him to get to third. Chris Saari then sacrificed to get Heathman home.

With one set of outs left, Northern Driveline had a key chance in that final inning. Hill reached on an error. Kariniemi then singled to left field. Kruse hit into a fielder’s choice, putting runners on the corners after he arrived safe at first.

Peter Larson also hit into a fielder’s choice, but this time, Kruse was tagged at second base. Hill also made it home before the play came to an end. However, Joe Halonen struck out to end the game.

Up next

Garnet Garage is back home on Tuesday when they host Coldwell Banker Craig Heinonen at 6:30 p.m. at the John Bostwick Field. Northern Driveline is off until Thursday when they host Houghton Building Supply-Stanton at Stanton Field.

Northern Driveline third baseman Matthew Halonen tracks down a ball hit by Garnet Garage third baseman Kevin Bostwick with support from pitcher Owen Kariniemi during a game Thursday at Stanton Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)