Chico pitching staff remains red hot
Published on July 30, 2006 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
The number 0.40 is microscopic. And when that number represents a pitching staff's earned run average over a five-game stretch, it means that the individual hurlers are on fire. "On fire" may be the only way to describe Outlaws pitching over the past five games, as the team has given up only four runs, two of them earned. It has been 21 innings since an Outlaws pitcher has allowed an earned run.
Grant Gregg (6-3) continued the dominance Saturday, as he held the Yuma Scorpions to six hits and an unearned run in eight innings of work. The offense wasn't spectacular, but it provided Gregg with enough firepower to seize a 3-1 victory. The victory ties Gregg for tops in the Golden Baseball League with teammates Nick Singleton and Brian Kroll, as well as Yuma's Jorge Perez, tomorrow's starter.
If it weren't for Outlaws miscues in the field, the Scorpions would be on a long run drought. In the past two games Yuma has not managed an earned run against Outlaws pitching. But just like Friday's contest, the Scorpions scored first with an unearned run. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Hector Tena laid down a perfect bunt and raced towards first. Chico third baseman Todd Gossage charged the ball and barehanded it before making a wild throw to first. After right fielder Lino Garcia tracked the ball down, Tena was standing on third base with a bunt single. Gossage was charged with a two-base error. Gregg got the next hitter, Steve Smith, to tap a grounder to shortstop, but Jesse Kovacs mishandled the ball and Tena scored easily.
Chico's offense was dormant until the seventh inning, when the home team finally broke through for three runs off starter Chris Langlois (3-7). Desi Wilson rifled a single to lead off the inning and Mike Mallory drew a walk to put two runners on. Craig Kuzmic, the next hitter, smashed a Langlois offering over the right-centerfield fence to put the Outlaws on the board. Wilson had a stellar night at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles. That was all the offense Chico could muster, but with Gregg on the mound, three runs was more than plenty.
Although Chico entered the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead, the Scorpions wasted no time putting a scare into the Outlaws faithful. Billy Kovatch led off with a single and Jacob Guzman hit a laser between Gregg's legs and into centerfield. With the tying run on first base and nobody out, Outlaws manager Mark Parent summoned George Huguet from the bullpen. Huguet escaped the sticky situation with a double-play grounder and a lineout, good enough to secure his third save of the season.
The Yuma offense changed its strategy from the previous night and decided to play some small ball, to no avail. Three of Yuma's six hits were bunts, and manager Benny Castillo elected to use the hit-and-run more than in the first game of the series
The Outlaws will gun for the sweep Sunday with Hideki Nagasaka (2-1, 5.82 ERA) on the mound, while Yuma will counter with the aforementioned Perez (6-1, 2.78 ERA), who leads the GBL in earned run average. Nagasaka's last start was a gem, as he gave up one run in eight innings in a victory over the Long Beach Armada. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Nettleton Stadium.
Golden Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2006
- Sugarman to leads Flyers to their first five game win streak - Orange County Flyers
- Chico pitching staff remains red hot - Chico Outlaws
- Surf Dawgs drop fourth straight - San Diego Surf Dawgs
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