Armada Strike Late, Score Three in the 8th to Nip Outlaws 7-6

June 2, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release


CHICO, CA - Stephen Yoo's bloop single over a drawn-in infield plating the tying and go-ahead runs, capping an 8th inning rally that gave the Long Beach Armada a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Chico Outlaws Sunday night at Nettleton Stadium...the Armada winning the rubber match of the three-game weekend set.

The Outlaws, who notched their first victory of the year Saturday, looked poised to make it two straight as they jumped on Long Beach starter Jerome Williams for three quick 1st inning runs. Steve Boggs led off with a bloop single to right, and following a Jesse Kovacs walk, Jose Valdez launched a home run over the center field wall...his second big fly of the year putting Chico up 3-0. The Armada answered with two runs in the 3rd off Outlaws starter Tyler Pearson; Yoo and Octavio Martinez provided an RBI double and single respectively. Chico got one of those runs back in the bottom of the 3rd on a solo homer by Julian Benavidez, making the score 4-2...but in the 4th Dave Parrish dialed long distance with a solo homer to left to cut the Outlaws lead to one. In the 6th Long Beach pulled even when Martinez delivered a two-out single to plate Chris Klemm.

Chico regained the lead in the 7th, and it was Valdez who came through with the clutch hit, a two-out double to left to knock in Boggs and Casey Garrison to put Chico up 6-4. But the game would be decided in the Armada's half of the 8th - consecutive singles by Dan Trumble, Klemm and Parrish made the score 6-5...then following a sac bunt to put runners at second and third, Yoo poked a shallow pop-up over the second base bag, clearing the infield by no more than a foot. But with the infield playing in, the ball dropped for a hit, driving home Klemm and Parrish and giving Long Beach their first lead of the night. The Outlaws made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th, loading the bases with two outs...but with the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position, Armada reliever Nick Cavanaugh got Lino Garcia to foul out to first to end it and give Long Beach the win.

Despite giving up six runs in seven innings, Williams (2-0) got credit for the victory, striking out 10 Outlaws batters along the way...Chico reliever Trevor Caughey (0-1) was saddled with the loss. The Armada cranked out 14 hits, with six different players enjoying multi-hit nights...the Outlaws had 10 hits, paced by Garrison's 3-for-4 performance...Valdez went 2-for-5 and drove in five runs for the second time this season. Sunday's loss dropped Chico to 1-6 on the year, while Long Beach improved to 4-2 for the season. Chico continues its nine-game homestand Monday with the first of three against the Orange County Flyers...left-hander Jason Roach (0-1) will get the start for the Outlaws. Game time is 7:05pm; hear all the action with Rory Miller calling the play-by-play beginning at 6:35pm on ESPN 101.7 FM or 1340 AM. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.ChicoOutlawsBaseball.com.



Golden Baseball League Stories from June 2, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central