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Edmonton Snaps Fielders' Six-Game Win Streak

June 10, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Lake County Fielders News Release


Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (June 9, 2011) - For the fifth time in their last six games, the Lake County Fielders (10-3) scored in the top of the 1st inning, but on Thursday night, they could not sustain their early lead, falling 8-4 to the Edmonton Capitals (7-5).

The Fielders put up three runs on the board in that top of the 1st inning. Quentin Luquette, who hit in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, began the offense with a single. Two batters later, Lino Garcia brought Luquette home on a foul line-hugging ground ball double that went all the way to the outfield wall. Argelis Nunez followed up with a massive, two-run home run that went over the left field scoreboard at Telus Field, giving the Fielders a 3-0 lead.

Edmonton eventually crawled back in the game, beginning in their half of the 1st inning. Second baseman Matt Rogelstad led off the inning with a double, and scored on centerfielder Todd Linden's RBI single. The Capitals cut further into the Lake County lead in the 2nd inning, when catcher Lou Santangelo tripled to begin the inning. Santangelo scored on third baseman Carlos Duncan's single to make it a 3-2 Fielders lead.

But, it was the bottom of the 3rd inning that turned out to be the deciding inning of the game. Linden began the inning with a leadoff, game-tying solo home run to left-center field. Right fielder Tom Collaro found himself on second base when Fielders third baseman Patrick Brooks let a ball slip under his glove and into left field. Collaro scored on a Santangelo double, giving Edmonton a 4-3 lead. Later in the inning, with runners at 2nd base and 3rd base and one out, Capitals starting pitcher Albie Lopez boldly pulled off a successful run-scoring suicide squeeze bunt that gave Edmonton a two-run advantage. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

Lake County showed some life in the top of the 5th inning. Luquette was the beneficiary when a remarkable play by Edmonton left fielder Pete Tountas went awry. Tountas dove to make the catch on Luquette's fly ball, but the ball didn't remain in his glove when he landed, allowing Luquette to reach with a double. Rex Rundgren advanced Luquette to third base, when he was able to coax an infield single off the Capitals defense. Matt Mansilla, who entered the game in the 4th inning for Garcia when his nagging left wrist injury was aggravated, brought Luquette home on a sacrifice fly. The run by Luquette would be the last run the Fielders scored the rest of the game.

Edmonton finished off the Fielders with a Santangelo solo home run in the bottom of the 5th, an RBI single by first baseman Brent Metheny in the bottom of the 6th and a solo homer by shortstop Enrique Cruz.

Dan Blewett (1-1) suffered the loss for the Fielders. Blewett went five innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits, walking eight and striking out two. Blewett was unable to protect the early lead that his offense gave him. The loss to Edmonton snapped a stretch where the Fielders won eight straight games when scoring first.

The Fielders will look to get back to their winning ways in the second game of the five-game series against the Edmonton Capitals on Friday night. The Fielders maintain a two-and-a-half-game lead over Edmonton in the North Division standings. First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 7:00pm local (8:00pm 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 10, 2011


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