The Dallas Redbirds (50+) came out swinging in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader at McInnish Sports Complex, but a pair of explosive innings by the Dallas Spirits ultimately handed the Redbirds a 15-6 loss in Game 1.
The Redbirds wasted no time setting the tone, with Rich Beller ripping an RBI single in the top of the first to give his squad an early lead. A second run would score moments later on a passed ball, putting the Redbirds ahead 2-0. Beller, who finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, earns Player of the Game honors for his steady performance at the plate.
The Redbirds padded the lead to 3-1 before the Spirits turned the contest upside down in the fourth. A six-hit, seven-run barrage—punctuated by German’s two-run single—ignited the home crowd and gave the Spirits an 8-3 lead they wouldn’t surrender.
In the sixth, the Spirits poured it on with another seven-run outburst fueled by eight hits and sharp execution. The Redbirds tried to claw back behind a 12-hit effort that included multi-hit games from Beller, Jerry Gamez, and Marcos Vidal, and two RBIs from Phil Bosco. But the offensive fireworks from the Spirits proved too much to overcome.
Starter Chris Cec battled through three innings, allowing five hits and five runs before giving way to the bullpen. The Redbirds’ defense held steady early but couldn’t weather the Spirits’ back-to-back offensive explosions.
Game 2 would bring redemption for the Redbirds, but in Game 1, despite the promising start, it was the Spirits who ran away late and stole the opener.
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. Fought (CF) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| R. Beller (SS) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Gamez (1B/P) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Tierney (RF) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Wilkinson (1B) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Bosco | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Nowels (3B) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Cec (P) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Vidal (LF) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Bedford (C) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Magee | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Smith (2B) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Cec (L) | 3.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| J. Gamez (RP) | 3.0 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
Redbirds Blank Spirits Behind Clawson’s Gem in Game 2 Rout
After a lopsided loss in Game 1, the Dallas Redbirds (50+) came roaring back in the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader, shutting out the Dallas Spirits 10-0 at McInnish Sports Complex behind a dominant outing from Scott Clawson and a seven-run eruption in the fourth inning.
The Redbirds struck first in the third inning when Kevin Fought lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the game’s opening run. That was just the start of Fought’s impact. One inning later, with the bases loaded and momentum shifting, the veteran slugger delivered a dagger—a sharp single that cleared the bases and broke the game wide open.
Fought finished 1-for-2 with a sac fly and a team-high three RBIs, earning Player of the Game honors. His timely swings fueled the Redbirds’ biggest inning of the day, a fourth-frame outburst that saw seven runs cross the plate. Mark Tierney and Aaron Nowels chipped in with RBI singles, Marcos Vidal added another run-scoring hit, and the Redbirds batted around with relentless pressure.
While the offense was cooking, Clawson was in full command on the mound. The right-hander tossed five shutout innings, scattering just three hits while striking out six and walking only one. His precision and poise kept the Spirits guessing and off the scoreboard.
The Redbirds collected 13 hits as Daron Wilkinson, Tierney, and Phil Bosco each contributed a pair. Patience also paid off, with the team drawing six walks—two each from Chris Cec and Jerry Gamez—to keep the pressure on the Spirits’ pitching staff.
Defensively, the Redbirds were flawless, committing no errors and turning every opportunity into outs. Gamez led the way with seven defensive chances handled cleanly behind the dish.
The convincing win not only split the doubleheader but restored the Redbirds’ swagger heading into next Saturday’s matchup against the Freebirds. With Clawson dealing and Fought delivering at the plate, Game 2 was all Redbirds, all the way.
Next up for DFW Redbirds is a game at Freebirds on Saturday.
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. Fought (CF) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Beller (3B) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Mahalik (SS) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Gamez (1B) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Tierney (LF) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Wilkinson (1B) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Bosco | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Nowels (2B) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Cec (RF) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| L. Bedford (C) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Vidal (LF) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| S. Smith (C) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Clawson (W) | 5.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
