ARCATA -- The swat, the swipe and the walk.
Those were the three offensive tools that the Humboldt Steelheads used in an 11-1 victory over the Eel River Eels in the first game of their Wednesday twinbill.
The Steelheads downed the Eels 3-0 in the nightcap.
In the opener, Jimmy Smith provided the swat -- a majestic three-run blast, above and to the right of the light pole at the 343-foot mark, that went far out onto U.S. Highway 101 -- with two outs in the fourth inning.
The Steelheads' catcher also delivered a single to right in the first that drove in Kirk Thurston and Brad Morgan, giving Smith five RBIs in the game.
”Jimmy had a great game for us,” said Steelheads' coach Grant Manzi.
Smith looked ready to add to his RBIs total when he came to bat in the bottom of the fifth with runners at second and third with two outs. But his chance never came.
Humboldt surprised the Eels by having Kevin Ayers race in from third and steal home. After Ayers slid across the plate, the score became 11-1 and the game ended via the 10-run rule.
Ayers' steal was the Steelheads eighth successful swipe in as many attempts during the ballgame.
”We just wanted to come out today and
The Steelheads scored in every inning.
In the first, after Smith's single, Tim Burwell delivered a RBI-single, and in the second inning, Ayers hit a sacrifice fly to center that drove in Cody Killingsworth.
Killingsworth cracked a double off the green wall below the 343-foot sign in the third that knocked in Burwell and Joe Ponte. And in the fifth, prior to Ayers' steal of home, Manzi's fielder's choice brought in Killingsworth.
Walks added fuel to Humboldt's offensive fire as Eels starter Jake Hamilton and reliever Chris Lehman, who pitched the fifth, combined to issue eight free passes. Morgan was walked in all three of his plate appearances and scored twice.
Eel River scored its run in the third when the Eels bunched together three of their four hits in the game.
Lehman led off with a single to right and moved to third on Chris Pence's single to right-center. One out later, Kirby Hawks' single to right brought home Lehman.
Steelheads' starter Justin Dixon threw two scoreless innings, and was followed by lefty Travis Sanborn and righty Brad Moore.
Sanborn allowed a run on three hits and struck out two, while Moore walked one but struck out the side, mostly on a high-velocity fastball.
With the sweep, Humboldt improved to 6-5 heading into Saturday's doubleheader at the Arcata Ball park against the Medford River Dogs. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Wednesday's Box Scores:
Game 1
Humboldt Steelheads 11, Eel River Eels 1
at Arcata Ball Park
Eel River Eels 001 00 -- 1 4 2
Humboldt Steelheads 312 32 -- 11 7 0
Batting -- (Eels) Hawks 1-3, RBI; Reed 1-2; Lehman 1-1, R; Pence 1-2 (Steelheads) Manzi 0-3 RBI, R; Thurston 1-4, R; Morgan 0-0, 2 R; Smith 2-3, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R; Burwell 1-2, RBI, R; Ponte 1-3, R; C. Killingsworth 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R; Ayers 0-1, R.
Eels IP H R ER BB SO
J. Hamilton 4 6 9 6 6 1
C. Lehman 2/3 1 2 2 2 1
Steelheads IP H R ER BB SO
J. Dixon 2 1 0 0 2 0
T. Sanborn 2 3 1 1 0 2
B. Moore 1 0 0 0 1 3
Game 2
Humboldt Steelheads 3, Eel River Eels 0
Eel River Eels 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2
Humboldt Steelheads 201 000 X -- 3 4 1
WP -- Joe Ponte
Batting -- (Steelheads) Hawkins 2-3, 2B, RBI;
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