Lightning Zaps Outlaws Offense
June 2, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
In the series-opener of a brief road-trip, the Outlaws drop an 8-5 contest to the St. George RoadRunners in a matchup of division leaders. The Outlaws tied an offensive ballgame in the top of the 5th at five apiece, but after a lightning delay of twenty minutes, St. George would score the only runs the rest of the way, taking an 8-5 final.
As a thunderstorm drew nearer and nearer to the ballpark, the winds whipped and baseballs were flying around Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the 3rd, the Outlaws struck for four runs with five consecutive one-out hits. Jonny Ash, Dale Swinford, and Dan Luyben all singled to load the bases, and Rich Janeway broke out of a slump with a two-RBI double to make the score 2-1. Following Janeway, Bryan Silverman plated two runs on a single and the Outlaws and starter Kevin Altman were enjoying a 4-1 lead.
But, in the bottom of the inning, St. George would strike with four runs of their own. After lead-off singles to start the inning, Alexis Gomez hit his first of two home-runs on the night, a three-run shot to right-center that tied the score at four. Following Gomez, Angel Sanchez made the home-runs back-to-back as he lined a solo shot over the left-field wall, leaving the inning with a 5-4 lead.
Coming out of the lightning delay in a 5-5 tie, both starters returned to the mound. Kevin Altman would surrender the decisive run in the sixth inning, and leave before the inning was over, taking his second loss of the season. Mac Nelson would complete six innings and earn his third victory of the year.
The St. George bullpen was overwhelming, as former Major Leaguers Eude Brito and Bartlamo Fortunato combined to hold the Outlaws scoreless in the final three innings. Brito got a two-inning hold, striking out four and not surrendering a hit in the 7th and 8th. Blake Gailen got a single off Fortunato to lead-off the ninth, but a double-play and a strike out would secure the save for the former San Francisco Giant.
The series resumes Tuesday evening, with first pitch scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Michael Martin will go to the mound for the Outlaws, looking to improve to 3-0. Tune in right here at ChicoOutlaws.com for the pre-game show and hang around for every pitch with Outlaws play-by-play man Joe Rauschenberger.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from June 2, 2009
- Toros Drop Game to Edmonton - Tucson Toros
- Five Run Sixth Sinks Snakes - Calgary Vipers
- Toros Player of the Week - Tucson Toros
- Drew Miller Named GBL Player of the Week - Calgary Vipers
- RHP Lorenzo Barcelo and OF Drew Miller Named GBL Players of the Week - GBL
- Roadrunners Sell Contract of LHP Mark Pawelek to the Cincinnati Reds - St. George RoadRunners
- Lightning Zaps Outlaws Offense - Chico Outlaws
- Caps Pitching Tames the Toros - Edmonton Capitals
- Back-to-Back Four-Run Frames Lift Vipers - Calgary Vipers
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