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Bongiovanni Leads Fielders to Series Opening Win at Chico

June 25, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Lake County Fielders News Release


Chico, California (June 24, 2011) - Lake County Fielders ace starting pitcher Vince Bongiovanni did it with his arm and his glove to lead the Fielders to a 9-7 victory against the Chico Outlaws in Friday night's series opener. The Fielders (19-8) won for the seventh time in their last nine games.

Lake County tallied the first runs of the game in the top of the 1st inning. Brandon Newton led off the game with an infield single. Rex Rundgren followed with a successful bunt single, putting the first two hitters on base. Lino Garcia stepped up with a big hit to score Newton and take a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, C.J. Ziegler pulled a ball down to left field for a big hit with Chico left fielder Kurt Steinhauer overrunning the ball. The Steinhauer error ensured that Rundgren came across to score, making it a 2-0 Fielders lead.

However, Chico used a Fielders error to their advantage in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Chico catcher Al Quintana reached base on a throwing error by Rundgren. Quintana came in to score on a successful hit-and-run play executed by Chico first baseman Darrick Hale. Hale took second on his RBI double, cutting the Fielders lead to 2-1. Hale scored the tying run on a Steinhauer RBI single, to knot it at 2-2.

The Fielders quickly reclaimed the lead thanks to some assistance by Chico's outfield. With Argelis Nunez at first base, Matt Mansilla stepped to the plate with two outs. Mansilla hit a fly ball to deep right-center field. Both Chico centerfielder Chris Lubanski and right fielder Jake Rife couldn't decide on who would catch the ball, and neither put a glove on the ball. The ball dropped, and with Nunez running on contact with two outs, he hustled his way to score all the way from first base. Mansilla took second base with a clean RBI double, giving Lake County a 3-2 lead.

A Fielders insurance run was added in the top of the 6th inning, as Patrick Brooks led off the inning with a double. Brooks would score when Rex Rundgren was at the plate with two runners on and two out. Rundgren hit a single to bring home Brooks, to give Lake County a 4-2 lead.

Meanwhile, Bongiovanni was dealing headaches to Chico batters. After giving up a two-out single to Quintana in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Bongiovanni retired 11 straight batters to keep the Fielders ahead in the game. But, Bongiovanni didn't stop with his arm. He continued with his bat.

It started with two out in the top of the 7th inning. Mansilla drew a walk and Brooks singled to put two men on base. Matthew Redding brought home Mansilla on his single, making it a 5-2 Fielders lead. Then with two men on and two out, up stepped Bongiovanni. The Fielders pitcher drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field for a three-run home run. The roundtripper was the first hit by a Fielders pitcher this season, but more importantly, it gave Lake County an 8-2 lead. Bongiovanni's home run proved to be more meaningful later on in the game.

After Bongiovanni left following seven strong innings of work, allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), striking out seven and walking two, the bullpen hit a snag. Greg Lane began the bottom of the 8th inning, allowing the only four batters he faced to reach base. Lane gave up two hits and issued two walks, leaving the game with the Fielders up 8-3. Steve Grife entered and he served up a grand slam home run to Quintana. The line drive shot over the left field wall cut the Fielders lead to just 8-7. But, Grife was able to retire the next three batters and get out of the inning without any further damage.

Controversy ensued in the top of the 9th inning, as the Fielders looked to add runs in their last inning of offense. Newton stepped to the plate with a runner at first base and one out. Newton tapped a 1-0 pitch foul at home plate. The catcher Quintana was convinced it was a fair ball and threw to second base to begin a double play. However, home plate umpire Eric Martinez ruled that it was a foul ball. Quintana eventually became irate with the ruling, screaming at Martinez, going as far as bumping him, forcing Martinez to eject the catcher. Chico manager Mike Marshall also got a quick exit, as he argued the same call.

Back to action, Newton continued his at-bat, pulling a 2-2 pitch down the first base line for a fair ball. The Outlaws defense all assumed it was a foul ball, but neither umpire ruled it foul. The confusion allowed Newton to bring home a run and take third base with an RBI triple. The Newton three-bagger made it a 9-7 Fielders lead.

Fielders closer Chris Thompson came in the bottom of the 9th inning to hold down the fort. Thompson threw a solid inning as he reclaimed the North American League lead in saves with his 11th of the season.

The Fielders will try to win their second straight against Chico on Saturday night. All of the Fielders games against Chico have a 7:05p local start time (9:05pm central). You can listen to the game on 1220 AM WKRS or online at fieldersbaseball.com or wkrs.com.

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North American League Stories from June 25, 2011


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