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Captials Avoid Sweep with Late Rally

August 20, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers gave up four runs in the final three innings to be defeated 7-6 by the Edmonton Capitals before 1996 fans at Telus Field in Edmonton, Alberta. Leading 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh the Vipers surrendered two runs, one more in the eighth, and the winning run in the ninth to avoid sweeping the Capitals and winning their fifth straight game. Calgary broke open a 3-3 game in the top of the seventh with three runs but couldn't hold on for the victory. With the loss the Vipers are 19-9 in the second half, five and a half games ahead of Edmonton. Overall the Snakes are 45-22 for the top record in the Golden Baseball League.

Joe Sergent started the game for the Vipers and left after six innings with a three-run lead after giving up two earned runs and was in line for his seventh win. Pete Sikaras (2-1) took the loss for Calgary in giving up an unearned run in the ninth frame. Todd Privett (3-2) earned the win tossing two three-up, three-down innings in the eighth and ninth. Privett was the first Capital reliever to not give up at least two runs in the series.

At the plate Nelson Castro led the way for the Snakes going three-for-five with a run scored to raise his season batting average to .399.

Edmonton got onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first as Jorge Cortes walked, and with two outs Joey Gomes and Chad Ehrnsberger hit back-to-back doubles for a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning with a runner on second base and two outs, Cortes singled out to right field but Colin Moro beautifully threw out the runner at home with an perfect placed one-hopper to catcher Rick Guarno who applied a nice tag to end the inning.

Calgary followed in the top of the third with a run when Fehlandt Lentini reached on a fielding error, Nelson Castro singled, and Lentini scored when a double-play was grounded into for a 2-1 score.

The Vipers tied the game and then took the lead in the fourth inning as Raul Gonzalez walked, with two outs Caonabo Cosme singled, and Jorge Mejia also collected a base hit for a run batted in while on the same play Cosme scored on a fielding error for a 3-2 advantage.

Cosme made another great defensive play in the bottom of the fourth for Calgary as he dove to his right to spear a ground ball behind third base and from his side threw the runner out at first on a perfectly placed one-hopper.

The Capitals tied the game in the home half of the fifth frame at 3-3 as Mitch Graham walked, Cortes singled, and Graham scored an unearned run when Kevin House reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error was committed.

Calgary retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning as Cosme walked, Mejia singled, Lentini plated a run with a RBI base hit, Castro reached on a fielder's choice, Mejia scored as Castro got caught in a rundown between first and second base, and Kit Pellow delivered a sacrifice fly for a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the frame Graham doubled, moved to third base on a fly-out, and scored when a chopper was hit towards Calgary shortstop Castro who jumped, bare-handed the ball and incredible threw to first for the out before his feet hit the ground. Darryl Brinkley followed with a single and scored to make it a one-run game at 6-5 when Gomes doubled and an error was committed.

Edmonton tied the game in the bottom of the eighth frame as Joe Jiannetti and Aaron Hornostaj singled, John Pasieka walked to load the bases, and Cortes also received a base on balls to knot the game at 6-6.

The Capitals won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as Brinkley and Gomes singled and Ehrnsberger hit a comebacker to the mound that was thrown away into centerfield to allow Brinkley score the winning run at 7-6.

The Vipers now travel to Victoria for a three game series against the Seals on Friday August 21st, Saturday August 22nd both at 8:05 PM MDT, and Sunday August 23rd at 2:35 PM MDT. Evan Greusel (5-2, 6.65), Erik Dessau (8-3, 5.76), and Dallas Mahan (2-3, 3.44) will pitch for Calgary in the three-game-set.

Calgary returns home to Foothills Stadium on Tuesday August 25th, Wednesday August 26th, and Thursday August 27th all at 7:05 PM MDT for their final regular season home games of the season with the Edmonton Capitals in town. Tuesday will be "Toque Night" where Vipers' toques will be handed out at the game while on Wednesday it will be "Grey Eagle Casino Night" at the ballpark.

For the third straight year the Vipers have qualified for the playoffs and will host Game 3 of the North Division Championship Series on Friday September 4th at 7:05 PM MDT. If necessary Games 4 & 5 will be held on Saturday September 5th at 4:00 PM MDT and Sunday September 6th at 3:00 PM MDT also at Foothills Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 403-277-2255 or by stopping in at the Vipers Ticket Office at 2255 Crowchild Trail N.W. All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.

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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.

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