By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Galion Graders rallied late against the Cincinnati Steam Wednesday night to pick up their first home win of the season.
Trailing 4-0 going into the sixth, the Graders outscored the Steam 10-1 over the final three innings to cap off the rally which included a seven-run seventh inning. Three of the runs came when Ricky Silvestri hit a three-run home run to trim the Graders’ deficit to 5-4. A single by Daniel O’Keefe sent Byron Belcher home to tie the game.
The Graders took the lead three pitches later when Tyler Cowles hit a single and Reilly Hawkins advanced from third to home on an unearned run. Silvestri looked to go yard a second time in the inning when the Steam made a leaping grab at the fence for the third out of the inning, but the damage was already done as the Graders headed into the eighth with an 8-5 lead.
The Graders scored two more runs in the eighth to make it a 10-5 game, and with the defense locked in, didn’t have to worry about batting in the ninth.
Robbie Jones, O’Keefe, and Cowles led the Graders’ bats with two hits apiece.
Curtis Irving picked up the win for the Graders pitching one-and-one-third innings, striking out two.
With the win the Graders improved to 3-7 on the season while the Steam dropped their first game to fall to an 8-1 record.
Graders assistant coach Will Thompson explained what it feels like to get their first win at home this season.
“It feels good to get that monkey off our back, it felt good, and the guys swung it well in the seventh,” Thompson said. “Coach Baker woke the bats up a bit, we had real loose attitude and approach, and we came out in the seventh and good things happened for us.”
The Graders will play the Lima Locos in Lima tonight.
PHOTO GALLERY: Galion Graders vs. Cincinnati Steam