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Plantier tossed as Music beat Peanuts again

• Macon manager Phil Plantier is ejected in the first inning, which only fires up his players as the Music come alive to beat the Peanuts in 12 innings during the second installment of the SCL's "Peach Series."

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY — It seemed the South Georgia Peanuts finally solved the frustrating puzzle that is the Macon Music.

But as each opportunity passed along with the countless minutes during the marathon 12-inning contest Thursday night at Paul Eames Park, Macon again found a way to leave the Peanuts shaking their head.

The Music scored two runs in the 12th, but more importantly, survived four South Georgia rallies to extend the game in the 6-5 Macon victory.

“We had a million chances, I had chances,” said second baseman Steve Garrabrants, who flew out and struck out to end two of the extra innings with the game-winning run in scoring position. “We have got to be able to finish those games.”

A game that started wildly with Music manager Phil Plantier being thrown out after bumping an umpire in a first-inning tirade, ended in just as entertaining fashion.

The Peanuts (15-8) came from a run down in the eighth on a 420-foot blast over the center field wall by Jon Zeringue and again in the ninth on a 10-foot dribbler by Jasha Balcom that scored Nick Prosise to tie the game.

Near and far, it was the last of the clutch hits the Peanuts would produce.

In the ninth, Balcom eventually make his way to third when Macon catcher Felipe Del Rosario’s attempt to catch him stealing sailed into center for the third time in the game.

But Garrabrants struck out, leaving Balcom hanging.

“Emotionally you are geared up to get that game-winning run,” said Balcom, who finished 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, a run scored and an RBI. “It’s tough when it doesn’t happen.”

But as the combo of Jake Upwood and Ja Jones shut down Macon (16-8) through three extra innings, the Peanuts continued to threaten.

The Peanuts left Brooks on third with one out in the 10th, then couldn’t score in the 11th after putting runners on first and second with none out.

Once Macon broke through in the 12th against the game’s losing pitcher Pat Ford on a passed ball and sacrifice fly, it was time for the Peanuts to fall short once more.

South Georgia put the tying run on second with one out, but after a groundout scored Brooks to pull within one, Nick Prosise flied out to right field to end it.  

Macon has now won nine consecutive games, including four in a row against the Peanuts and vaulted ahead of them into first place in the South Coast League.

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