FAYETTEVILLE- This is just getting ridiculous. Columbia Blowfish starting pitcher Tyler Christman gave up only two hits and no earned runs Wednesday night.
But he still got the loss.
Matt McGovern pitched a complete game shutout, holding the Blowfish (1-1 10-20) to only four hits as the Fayetteville Swampdogs (1-1 17-11) took advantage of two Columbia errors to win 2-0 at J.P. Riddle Stadium in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville got their first base hit in the fourth inning after Brendan Rowland grounded a ball down the third base line. Columbia third baseman Jason Coker made a diving grab to keep the ball in the infield, but then made an errant throw to first, allowing Rowland to advance all the way to third. Matt Skirving followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 1-0 Swampdogs.
The sky opened up shortly afterwards, however, resulting in a ninety minute rain delay in the bottom of the fourth. McGovern and Christman came back out to continue the pitching duel.
With two outs and nobody on in the seventh, Jesse Lancaster laid down a bunt that rolled slowly towards the pitcher's mound. Christman fielded the ball and turned to throw to first, but lost his footing on the wet grass and made an off-target throw that allowed Lancaster to reach second. After a wild pitch, Wet Delatte then hit an RBI single up the middle to give Fayetteville a 2-0 lead.
McGovern (4-1) struck out ten and did not allow a runner to advance past first. McGovern he has not given up a run in 24 consecutive innings. Christman (0-4) only allowed two hits and two unearned runs, but remains winless.
Notes: Christman recorded another quality start (3 runs or fewer in 6 innings). It came one night after Patrick Sullivan gave up only one run in 7.2 innings. It marks the first time this season that Blowfish starters recorded back-to-back quality starts... It was the second time an opponent pitched a compete game shutout against the Blowfish. Last time was a seven-inning loss to Florence on June 8th. The kicker: Christman was the losing pitcher in that game as well... Columbia has now been shut out 6 times... Columbia remains on the road, as they travel to Florence Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30.
