Ninth Inning Rally Lifts St. George To 7-5 Win Over Outlaws

Published on August 5, 2007 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release


ST. GEORGE, UT - Juan Melo's two-run walk-off homer capped off an improbable comeback as the St. George Roadrunners, who had surrendered the lead in the top of the 9th inning, scored four times in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Chico Outlaws 7-5 Saturday night at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah...the victory evening the four-game series at one win apiece.

The contest was the complete opposite of Friday's series-opening offensive barrage - starters Jake McKinley of Chico and St. George's Mark Woodyard locked horns for seven innings in an entertaining pitcher's duel...with most of the fireworks reserved for the game's final frame. Chico plated an unearned run in the 1st inning when Steve Boggs reached on an error, went to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a Scott Dragicevich single and scored on Daniel Nava's opposite-field base hit to left. The Outlaws went up 2-0 when Nava led off the 4th inning with a double and came home on a Todd Gossage RBI single. St. George cut Chico's lead in half when Gary Harris launched a solo homer in the 5th inning...then in the 6th Geoff Wagner singled, stole second and scored on a Santiago Guerrero single to tie the game.

With Woodyard setting down 14 consecutive Outlaws batters, the Roadrunners took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the 8th - Guerrero reached on a two-out infield single...and after Chico reliever Jesse Oster walked Marcos Villezcas, pinch-hitter Cody Nowlin delivered a double to right to plate the go-ahead run and put St. George on top 3-2. But in the top of the 9th the Outlaws would rally - with Woodyard still on the mound, Gossage lined a one-out single to right to plate Dragicevich and Nava...Gossage would later score on a Jason Matteucci groundout to give Chico a 5-3 lead. Outlaws closer Todd Gelatka came on to get the final three outs, but things would not go as planned for the Golden Baseball League saves leader - after striking out Harris, Gelatka gave up back-to-back doubles to Dustin Hicks and Ryan Stevenson to make the score 5-4...Brett Flowers then followed with a single to right to plate Stevenson and tie the score. That set the stage for Melo, who hit Gelatka's second pitch high over the right field fence...the home run ending the ballgame and giving St. George the dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Woodyard (2-8) went all the way in notching his second straight win...Gelatka (2-2) suffered the loss. Wagner and Harris each went 3-for-4 to lead the Roadrunners 14-hit attack...Melo and Guerrero chipped in with two hits apiece. The Outlaws had nine hits on the night, with Nava and Dragicevich both going 3-for-4 and Gossage collecting a pair of singles and three RBI. Saturday's loss dropped Chico to 6-11 in the second half and 31-24 overall...St. George improved to 3-13 in the second half and 10-43 for the year. The Outlaws eight-game homestand concludes Sunday with a doubleheader against the Roadrunners - Chico will send right-hander John Jefferson (4-1) to the mound in the first game of the double dip; St. George will throw lefty Danny Hall (0-2)...in the nightcap, right-hander Jake McLintock (2-2) gets the start for the Outlaws; St. George will counter with righty Robert Salini (0-0 with St. George, 3-3 overall). The first game of the doubleheader begins at 1:05pm Pacific time... hear all the action with "The Voice" of the Outlaws, Rory Miller, beginning at 12:35pm on the internet or on SportsFan 101.7 FM ESPN Radio.

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Golden Baseball League Stories from August 5, 2007


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