That poignant proclamation by the Paints' part-time play-by-play announcer pretty properly puts into place the plight of Ross County's team. The Paints out-hit Washington, had more runners in scoring position and had opportunities at every turn, but the Wild Things got the right hits - and the right help - at the right time Tuesday, finishing off a two-game series sweep of Chillicothe with a 7-6 come-from-behind victory.
It was the ninth consecutive loss on the road for Chillicothe, and the 17th defeat in 20 games away from VA Memorial Stadium.
It's worth repeating:
"If it weren't for bad luck, the Paints would have no luck at all."
Of the 10 runners the Paints left on Tuesday, six of them were in scoring position. To be fair however, the team did have six hits in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position - a whale of a ratio that helped Chillicothe build up a 4-2 lead by the middle of the fifth inning.
But right after that, the Wild Things had a whale of a bottom of the fifth.
Justin Drabek - who came into the game after starter Brian Marshall lasted only two innings - retired the first two batters of the fifth inning quickly.
But the third out was darn-near impossible to get.
Nathan Messner's two-out single to center started it off, and Robbie Knapp's double down the left field line kept it going for Matt Sutton, who spanked a two-run triple to right to tie the game at 4. Marty Weisler relieved Drabek and walked the first batter he faced, then gave up a two-run single to catcher Pat O'Brien to give Washington the lead for good.
The Wild Things added an insurance run - the run, ultimately, that made the difference in the score - in the sixth when Chris Sidick pounded his third home run over the wall in right.
But just like in the first game of the series, the Paints made a run at it off Washington's bullpen.
Chillicothe got a run off Ryan Davis in the seventh when Dan Cummins came through with a two-out RBI, pushing Jon Poterson across the plate. The Paints made it a one-run game in the ninth off Ian Heisel when Adrian Cantu singled in Paul Rutgers. But, with one on and one out, Chillicothe couldn't manage to get another big hit as Heisel held on for his fourth save.
The Paints rolled out of Washington Tuesday night for the 588-mile trip to Southern Illinois - the fourth-longest trip you can make from one FL ballpark to another. The Paints will start a three-game series against the Miners at 8:05 p.m. today, when Perry Cunningham (3-3, 5.66) will get the ball for Chillicothe, likely against Southern Illinois pitcher John Quals (2-0, 2.63).
The Dirt
Marshall hit four batters in his short time on the mound, including the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the first inning. Two of the batters he hit came around to score. ... Paul Rutgers started the Paints' ninth with a double Tuesday, breaking an 0-for-16 streak.