The 2010 San Francisco Giants were the latest team in Major League Baseball to prove the old adage that pitching wins championships, boasting a starting pitching staff that included Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez.
Dick's Pharmacy used that same formula in the clinching game of the semifinals and the first game of the George B. Kelley Federation championship series, allowing just a combined three hits in both games.
Although Sunday night's starter, right-hander Scott Lytle, wasn't as dominant as the previous two starters, Lytle was still strong enough to lead Dick's Pharmacy to a 10-5 victory over ReMax Realty in Game 2 of the best-of-five championship series at Vets Field.
As a result, Dick's Pharmacy took a commanding 2-0 lead and could wrap up the series in Game 3 at 7 tonight at Vets.
After Dick's scored two runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to an RBI double by Andy Scalice and a sacrifice fly by Nate Clancy, ReMax Realty answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Lytle surrendered a sacrifice fly to Bush and an RBI single by Connor Abram.
Following that rough first inning, Lytle bounced back and allowed just three more runs and five more hits for the rest of the game.
Dick's Pharmacy manager Pat Yon could not say enough positive things about the way Lytle was able to respond to the adversity.
"Pitching was once again the difference," Yon said. "We've had three straight games of great pitching, and Scott did it tonight. He started out a bit roughly, but he found his groove after that."
Dick's Pharmacy took a 3-2 lead in the top of the second inning when Lytle helped his own cause by plating Nate Morgan on a ground-out. Following a scoreless third inning and top half of the fourth, ReMax was able to tie the game again at 3-3 on an unearned run.
Dick's then started to take control of the game in the fifth inning, taking a 6-3 lead. It was highlighted by RBI singles by Dyland Oswalt and Scalice. ReMax was able to cut its deficit to just two in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Dustin Albright that scored right fielder Zach Price. Dick's then broke the game open in its final at-bats, scoring four runs to take a commanding 10-4 lead.
Lytle was not overpowering, but he was able to fan five batters and limit his walk total to just four.
"[Lytle] pitched a good game," ReMax manager Brian Mercer said. "He kept us off-balanced. He wasn't overpowering though. He threw his curveball well when he needed to."
DICK'S PHARMACY (10): Lytle p 422, Scalice c 413, Adams cr 010, Kyle lf 502, Frederick 2b 514, Clancy ss 311, Yon 1b 411, Morgan rf 411, Wolfe 3b 311, Oswalt cf 311. Totals: 35-10-16.
REMAX REALTY (5): Dalto cf 310, Albright 2b 411, Bush lf 300, Abram 1b 411, Sanders p/3b 200, Hershey cr 000, Frederick 3b-p 411, Watson c 401, Johnson cr 000, Price rf 311, Robertson ss 302. Totals: 30-5-7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Dick's Pharmacy210 030 4- 10 16 6
ReMax Realty200 101 1 - 5 7 3
E-Kyle, Clancy, Wolfe 3, Frederick, Dalto, Watson, Robertson. 2B-Scalice. RBI-Bush, Abram, Albright, Price, Lytle 2, Scalice 2, Clancy, Oswalt. DP-ReMax Realty 1, Dick's Pharmacy 1. Sac fly-Clancy, Bush. Sac bunt-Scalice. SB-Lytle, Frederick, Wolfe. WP-Lytle. LP-Sanders. SO-Lytle 5, Sanders 2. BB-Lytle 4, Sanders 4.
