Navigators can't hold lead

LYNN -- The North Shore Navigators began last night hoping to widen its one-game lead over second-place Sanford at Fraser Field, with playoff spots and positioning on the line.

But the Navs blew a 3-0 lead, allowing three runs in the top of the seventh, and fell to the Mainers, 5-3.

Both squads (North Shore 22-11; Sanford 23-12) are locked in a virtual first place deadlock atop the Northern Division, with just a handful of games left.

The Navs took the 3-1 lead into the seventh, but lefty Matt Costello issued a leadoff walk to right fielder Devin Harris. Teammate Klint Reed reached on an infield single, and, with Jason Marovitz pitching in relief, catcher Will Greenberg placed a bunt in front of the mound. Markovitz hesitated before throwing to first, allowing Greenberg to beat it out, loading the bases. Second baseman Matt Nandin then bunted to the left side of the lefthanded throwing Markovitz, bringing home Harris with another run.

Reed crossed the plate with the tying moments later on a fielder's choice. An intentional walk to center fielder Branson Joseph loaded the bases, but Markovitz beaned pinch hitter Gregory Hopkins on a 1-2 count to force in Greenberg with the go-ahead run.

"The two bunts off Markovitz were freak plays, as well as him beaning a pinch-hitter that's hitting .150", said Falcon of the misfortunes that befell his reliever in the seventh.

Sanford widened its lead in the eighth on a leadoff homer by Harris, as he greeted reliever Chris Kowalski with his blast over the center fielder wall.

The Navs couldn't get anything started off Sanford starter Mike Wilson in the first inning, but back-to-back homers by first baseman Kent Graham and catcher Frank Persorella staked Costello to a 2-0 edge. Graham's homer came on Wilson's first offering to him, while Persorella clubbed his on a 3-2 fastball.

North Shore added a run in the third. Outfielder Sean McNaughton raced around to third on a triple to deep left-center, then came in to score when teammate Nick Belcher singled just inside the third base bag. Belcher stole second, then took third when Greenberg's throw sailed into center. Unfortunately, he was left stranded at the base.

"The game might have been different had we been able to get that fourth run in," stated Falcon. "We could've knocked their pitcher (Wilson) out at that point, but we couldn't get that extra run."

Local Weather