Comeback Stretches Winning Streak to 13

Published on July 18, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


It took two extra innings but the Calgary Vipers increased their winning streak to 13 games with a 7-6 victory over the Chico Outlaws before 2572 fans at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Trailing by four runs in the bottom of the third inning the Vipers scored once and added three more in the fourth to tie the game before eventually winning in the bottom of the ninth. For the Snakes it was their third walk-off win in their last four contests and increases their overall record to 20 games above .500 at 33-13. The Vipers continue to have the Golden Baseball League's best record as well as first place in the North Division with a 7-0 second half mark.

Travis Hughes (3-0) was once again great out of the bullpen picking up his third win in only his fourth appearance of the season. Hughes threw two and two-third innings not allowing a run while striking out two. Blake Cull (1-1) took the loss with a run against in the ninth frame.

At the plate all nine Vipers in the order had at least a hit with 15 in total. Rick Guarno led the way going three-for-four with two runs scored, including the game winner, and two runs batted in.

Chico opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Jonny Ash was hit by a pitch, Norm Hutchins singled, and Shane Cronin reached on a fielding error which also scored Ash for a 1-0 lead.

Fehlandt Lentini responded for the Vipers with his sixth home run of the season on the first pitch of the bottom of the frame for a 1-1 tie.

In the next half inning the Outlaws took back the lead as Bryan Silverman doubled, Blake Gailen bunted for a base hit, and Dale Swinford made the score 2-1 with a run batted in groundout.

Calgary again used the long ball to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second as Guarno went big fly for the fifth time this season.

Right back answered Chico in the top of the third as Cronin walked, Truan Mehl singled, both runners advanced on a fielding error, and Jason Crosland gave his team the lead with a RBI sacrifice fly. With two outs Silverman, Matt DeJesus, and Blake Gailen all hit RBI doubles for a 6-2 advantage.

The Snakes got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Colin Moro was hit by a pitch, Caonabo Cosme walked, and with two outs Guarno drove in a run for a 6-3 game.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Calgary tied the game back up at 6-6 as Ivan Reyes singled, Dillon O'Krane reached on an error, and with two outs Jorge Mejia drove in both with a double, and Moro plated Mejia with a base hit.

Calgary scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Guarno singled, Reyes walked, O'Krane reached on a bunt base hit, and Lentini walked with the bases loaded for a RBI and a 7-6 final.

Reggie Rivard (3-1, 4.83) takes to the hill for game two of this double-header and will return to the bump for the first time since injuring himself on July 1st.

This five-games-in-four-days series wraps up Sunday July 19th at 1:35 PM MDT with a "You Already Have What it Takes" Police Recruitment day at the stadium. Joe Sergent (3-3, 3.65) will be on the mound for Calgary and is coming off back-to-back no-decisions.

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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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 18, 2009


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