HOLYOKE – The seventh inning turned Thursday’s Valley Blue Sox home opener against the Bristol Blues at MacKenzie Stadium from a pitcher’s duel to a blowout.

The Blue Sox only trailed by one run after six innings, but the visitors stacked seven runs in their top half of the frame to put the game out of reach. A hit by pitch and a walk among the first two batter set the table, and Gavin Noriega cleared it with a two-run triple. Bristol (1-1) collected five hits in the inning and drew threw walks.

Valley (0-2) managed six hits but couldn’t bring a runner home.  Matthew Bergevin singled twice, while Efrain Correa Jr. doubled for the Blue Sox. Valley’s Eliot Dix, William Gale and Sean Scanlone had a hit each.

Bristol pitcher Jake Babuschak earned the win allowing just four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings.

Blue Sox starter Nick Callano took a tough loss after giving up just one hit and an unearned run in five innings with five strikeouts.

The Ocean State Waves visit MacKenzie Stadium next at 6:35 p.m. Friday.

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.

 

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