Marzi Tosses Gem, Leads Bees Past Revs, 2-0

By Bob Phillips

Berlin native Anthony Marzi threw a masterful five-hit
shutout to lead the Bees over the York Revolution.

YORK, Pa. – It may have been a contest between two last-place teams, but the game was immensely entertaining nonetheless. Anthony Marzi threw a complete-game masterpiece, and the New Britain Bees topped the York Revolution, 2-0, before 2,137 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Monday night. It was the second complete game shutout of the season for the 24-year-old Berlin native.

The weather was scorching—the thermometer read 91 degrees at the start of the contest—and Marzi proved to be just has hot. Masterful, although not overpowering, the 24-year-old, 6-1 lefty allowed just five hits and walked only one batter, but only registered two strikeouts.

The Bees gave Marzi, a former captain at UConn, all he would need in the top of the first. James Skelton delivered a one-out single to left field, then advanced to third on a double to right by Jovan Rosa. After Craig Maddox went down swinging, Skelton was driven home on a two-out single by Bees’ second baseman Conor Bierfeldt. And that’s the way it stood for the next six innings with Marzi and York starter Victor Mateo matching goose eggs.

New Britain added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Yusuke Kajimoto led off the inning with a walk issued by reliever Hatwin Buchanan, who had just come in to replace Mateo. The Bees’ second baseman advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, then was driven home on a double by Maddox to make it 2-0 New Britain. Marzi allowed a single in the bottom of the eighth, and a double in the ninth, but neither runner advanced and New Britain came away with the victory.

The Revs’ offense was led by Alexi Casilla with two hits, while Alonzo Harris, Isaias Tejeda and Travis Witherspoon had one apiece.

With the win, the Bees improved to 19-33, while the Revs fell to 21-31. It marked the first nine-inning complete-game shutout for the Bees pitcher since Kyle Simon blanked Somerset on June 22, 2016.

The two sides will conclude their four-game series on Thursday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at PeoplesBank Park. Right-hander Jonathan Pettibone (0-2, 2.47) will start for the Bees, while righty Curtis Partch (3-3, 4.46) take to the hill for the Revs. Broadcast: The game can be viewed on the Bees’ official YouTube Channel (youtube.com/NewBritainBees) and Facebook Live (facebook.com/newbritainbees), starting at 6:15 p.m.

After a three-game weekend set in Waldorf, Md., where they will challenge the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Bees return home to the cozy confines of New Britain Stadium where they will host the Sugar Land Skeeters for a four-game set starting Monday night. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

• Monday, June 19 vs. Sugar Land: Father’s Day Celebration/Dollar Day Monday 
• Tuesday, June 20 vs. Sugar Land: Two-Fer Tuesday 
• Wednesday, June 21 vs. Sugar Land: YMCA Fun “4” Everyone Day 
• Thursday, June 22 vs. Sugar Land: Thirsty Thursday

BEES BUZZ

• Jordan Hinshaw has recorded multiple hits in three of his last four games.
• Yusuke Kajimoto has reached base safely in nine consecutive games.
• Jovan Rosa’s first-inning double was his 16th of the season. He leads the team in that department. He also extended his consecutive games played for the Bees streak to 192, and his overall consecutive games played streak to 215, including postseason.
• Although Yusuke Kajimoto’s hitting streak was snapped at eight games, it tied the season high for New Britain.
• Conor Bierfeldt has recorded multiple hits in four of his last six games.

THE SKINNY

—With Staff Reports