Danbury High senior left-hander J. J. Goetz scattered four hits while striking out five and walking the same number when the Hatters defeated Trumbull, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon in Trumbull. The Iona-bound pitcher improved his record to 2-1.
Danbury, now 6-3, got both runs in the first inning by taking advantage of early-game wildness by starting and losing pitcher Chris O’Brien.
O’Brien gave up one-out walks to Brent Jacobellis and Mike Halas. Both runners moved up a base when Eric Cerno’s ground out. Jacobellis scored on an O’Brien wild pitch, before Andrew Luis drove in Halas with an opposite-field single to left.
O’Brien, who threw 96 pitches, gave way to Dan Keckler in the sixth. O’Brien only allowed three hits while walking five and striking out one. He also hit a batter.
Trumbull, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped, left seven runners on base.
The Eagles got four hits, all singles, from Danny Ruchalski, Alex Rauso, Justin Waldek and O’Brien. Trumbull now has a 5-3 record.
“Every time we put ourselves in a position to score, he (Goetz) was able to shut us down,” Trumbull coach Phil Pacelli said. “He’s a very crafty pitcher.”