Walker Earns Win in Season Opener

Justin Walker threw three innings of two-hit baseball to help the Sting open the season with a 9-5 win over the Durham Lords.

Two years after excelling as a first year on a veteran team, Walker picked up where he left prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing three walks and striking out four batters.

Walker was provided all the support he would need early as the Sting scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning of Lords starter Carter Quinney. Tony Kown walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored on an RBI single by AJ Rowe. Fourth year catcher Edwin Kim doubled to score Rowe and later scored on a throwing error.

With Walker holding the Lords to just a single run through three innings, the heart of the order struck again. Kwon was hit by a pitch, stole second and reach third after a single by Rowe. Kim doubled to deep left-centre to score to put runners in scoring position. Caleb Battye hit a sacrifice fly to score Rowe and Kim came home on a Logan Isaacs single. The final run of the inning was scored on an infield single by Melvin Pujols, scoring Dan Seguin.

The Lords added a run in each of the final five innings, but runs by Jordan Blake and Game Bourgeois in the bottom of the sixth put provided the Sting with some breathing room.

Kim finished with a pair of hits, two runs and three RBIs. Rowe was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Seguin reached base in all three plate appearances, adding a pair of walks to a first inning single.

Matthew Scarcello pitched two and a thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with just two hits. Jake Ruby completed the game, allowing one hit, one run and striking out a batter.

Quinney was credited with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits, a walk and a strikeout. Mike Asselin allowed six runs (five earned) in relief.