Garcia Homer Breaks Up No-Hitter in 8th, Chico Wins 2-0
Published on August 12, 2006 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
LONG BEACH, CA - The Chico Outlaws only posted one hit Friday night at Blair Field in Long Beach, but it was a big one - Lino Garcia's two-out, two-run homer foiled Andre Simpson's bid for a no-hitter and Hideki Nagasaka tossed a complete game four-hitter as Chico nipped the Long Beach Armada 2-0 in the opener of a three game weekend series.
It was the second straight night that Long Beach saw a no-hit bid go by the wayside late in the game - Thursday in Fullerton, Rik Currier carried a no-no into the 9th inning, only to lose to the Flyers 3-2. For the first seven innings on Friday, Simpson was untouchable, allowing just one baserunner (Jason Van Meetren, who was hit by a pitch in the 2nd) and at one point retired 16 straight Chico batters. Nagasaka was nearly as tough, scattering just four hits over the first seven innings and not allowing a Long Beach baserunner past second.
The game was still scoreless and the Simpson no-hitter intact until the fateful 8th inning when the Outlaws scored what turned out to be the winning runs - Craig Kuzmic led off with a walk and went to second on Van Meetren's sacrifice bunt. Jim Wallace fouled out down the first base line, setting the stage for Garcia's heroics - Lino blasting a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall...his third homer of the year (and second in Long Beach) putting Chico up 2-0. The Armada threatened in the bottom of the 8th when David Ramirez got to third with two outs, but Nagasaka struck out Chris Klemm looking to keep Long Beach off the board. Hideki finished with a flourish, striking out two more in the bottom of the 9th and retiring the Armada in order to give the Outlaws the exciting series-opening win.
Nagasaka (4-1 with the Outlaws, 5-1 overall) struck out 10 en route to his first complete game victory of the season...Simpson (5-5) notched his third complete game of the year but was saddled with the hard luck loss. Friday's win upped Chico's second half record to 17-7 and with Fullerton losing to San Diego, increased the Outlaws league lead to a game-and-a-half over the second place Flyers; Chico improved to 39-25 on the year...Long Beach dropped their sixth in a row to fall to 8-17 in the second half and 30-35 overall. Game two of the series is set for Saturday, with the Outlaws sending left-hander Trevor Caughey (0-0) to the mound...the Armada countering with righty Ryan Claypool (4-3). Game time is 6:05pm...hear all the action with Rory Miller on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM or on the internet at www.ChicoOutlawsBaseball.com.
Golden Baseball League Stories from August 12, 2006
- Flyers Fight Back - Orange County Flyers
- Garcia Homer Breaks Up No-Hitter in 8th, Chico Wins 2-0 - Chico Outlaws
- Extra Innings at Home Goes Dawgs Way Again - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Flyers Downed in OT - Orange County Flyers
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