Late Bomb Downs Gems
July 6, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore - A ninth inning, pinch-hit three-run homer by Jeff Melby put Kelowna ahead as the Klamath Falls Gems dropped the last game of the series Tuesday night at Kiger Stadium, with 915 Gem fans in attendance.
Gems 3B Graham Saiko led off a four-run third inning with a double to the left center wall. The next hitter, CF Rich Sangunietti, reached base on an error by Kelowna second baseman Conner Joe. Klamath Falls 2B Zach Earle came up to the plate and brought Saiko home with a single. First baseman Nick Miller came up and hit a towering shot into right field, scoring Sangunietti from third on the sacrifice fly. LF Turner Gill, the next Gem to the plate, singled, scoring Earle. Two batters later Ryan Doeppel singled up the middle, scoring Gill for the last run in the third.
Gems' starting pitcher Mitch Merten went only four innings giving up four runs, nine hits walked one and struck out another.
The teeter-totter affair continued through eight until Melby's bomb in the top of the ninth, scoring 3B Andrew Firth and RF Victor Razor-Thompson. Firth led off the inning with a walk and Razor-Thompson singled. Melby's homer stretched the lead to 3 runs, leading to the 11-8 final.
The Kelowna Falcons starting pitcher, Paul Schwindell, went five innings, giving up six hits, struck out six, walked three and gave up three earned runs.
The Gems take two days off before heading back out on the road for a six-game road trip. The Gems will visit Washington, playing the Cowlitz Black Bears for a three game series July 8-10. From there the Gems head to Canada to face Kelowna in the return series, July 11-13th. The team returns to Klamath Falls for a three-game home series against Cowlitz on July 15.
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West Coast League Stories from July 6, 2011
- Knights Address July 3rd Fireworks Show - Corvallis Knights
- Kelowna Falcons Win Big - Kelowna Falcons
- Late Bomb Downs Gems - Klamath Falls Gems
- Big-Mack but Sweets can't rally - Walla Walla Sweets
- Black Bears Lose in Wenatchee - Cowlitz Black Bears
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