Armada Sweep Roadrunners Behind Bench Clearing Brawl

Published on June 10, 2007 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Long Beach Armada News Release


Who said that Long Beach doesn't have a hockey team? In a scene reminiscent of the now defunct Long Beach Ice Dogs, the Long Beach Armada of Los Angeles of California of North America including Barrow Alaska were involved in a major bench clearing melee in the seventh inning in route to a 17-13 win.

The incident was sparked by back to back collisions at the plate to end the seventh inning. St. George Roadrunners catcher Tanner Rogers survived two monster collisions from Armada outfielders Jon Kaplan and Chris Klemm by miraculously holding on to the ball. After the second collision that ended the inning, benches cleared and four players were ejected for fighting.

The Armada was clinging to a one run lead at 9-8 when Kaplan and Klemm were thrown out at the plate on back to back plays. The melee energized the Armada bats as they plated eight runs their next time up behind a three run blast over the 20 foot wall in left field by 1B Jaime Martinez.

The really long named team fell behind early by surrendering three runs in the first inning. Starting Pitcher Bud Smith, who pitched a no hitter with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, didn't have his best stuff as he gave up three consecutive hits and three runs to start the game. Roadrunner RF Greg Burrows had an RBI single and DH Ryan Stevenson and C Tanner Rogers had sacrifice files to build the 3-0 lead.

Long Beach stormed back in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits to take the lead behind a two run double by Armada 1B Jaime Martinez.

The Roadrunners looking for the teams first ever win wouldn't go quietly as they countered with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the 5th inning to take the lead 7-4. Armada starter, Bud Smith, gave up a lead off double to speedster Gary Harris who advanced to third on 2B Geron Sands ground out to first base. RF Greg Burrows hard one hopper to third scored Harris on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 4-4. A double by Roadrunners DH Ryan Stevenson and a walk to C Tanner Rogers chased Smith. Armada skipper and ex-MLB All Star, Darrel Evans, went to his young Brazilian pitcher, Marcel Vianna, to stop the bleeding. Vianna's debut was rocky as his first pitch hit pitch hitter Geoff Wagner to load the bases. CF Steven Wright followed with a bases clearing double to right center to make it 7-4.

But the Armada was just getting started at the plate. Looking to pick up their young pitcher and give him his first win of the young season, the Armada erupted for five runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-7 lead. A lead off single by SS Jorge Araiza, a fielder's choice by 2B Diasuke Ikenaga, a single by CF Jon Kaplan, and a walk by RF Chris Klemm loaded the based. Roadrunner starter Mike Storey was pulled for J. Martinson who took one out of Vianna's book by hitting LF Dan Trumble to score the Armada's first run and cut the deficit to 7-5. Third year Armada starter, Jeff LaRue, singled down the left field line scoring Klemm and Kaplan and tying the game at 7 runs a piece. After a walk to Jaime Martinez, DH Jason Mooneyham singled to right center off the third pitcher of the inning, Matt Pena, to score LaRue and Trumble giving the Armada a lead they would never relinquish at 9-7.

The Roadrunners cut the lead to one in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single by DH Ryan Stevenson.

Long Beach threatened again in the seventh but had both Kaplan and Klemm thrown out at the plate on back to back plays that initiated the bench clearing brawl.

The Armada bats - energized by the ejections of C David Ramirez and CF Jon Kaplan in the fight - could not be subdued in the eight. Jaime Martinez, who went 3-5 with 6 RBIs, had a three run home run and LaRue (3-4 with 4 RBIs) had a two run single to lead the charge that left the home team down 17-8.

Roadrunner RF Greg Burrows three run home run to left and 1B Geoff Wagner's two run shot to right made it 17-13 in the bottom half of the eight.

Armada closer Dane Delarossa pitched a hitless ninth to close out the game. Marcel Vianna, the Brazilian star, got the win despite giving up two earned runs in just an inning and one third of work.

The Long Beach Armada open its 2007 campaign against the Yuma Scorpions on Wednesday June 13th at 7:05pm. St. Mary Medical Center is sponsoring a fireworks extravaganza after the game.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from June 10, 2007


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