Outlaws even up series with 7-3 win over Yuma

July 22, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release


YUMA, AZ - Mike Mallory's three-run homer got the Chico offense rolling and Todd Gossage collected three doubles and three runs batted in as the Outlaws downed the Yuma Scorpions 7-3 Friday night at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, evening up their four-game series with the Scorpions at one win apiece.

Outlaws starting pitcher Nick Singleton was solid through the first five innings of the contest, scattering four hits and working out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the 2nd inning to keep Yuma off the scoreboard...but Scorpions starter Ryan Amason was also effective, allowing just one hit in his first three innings of work. Chico broke the seal in the 4th, and they did it in a big way - Bobby Gandolfo and Desi Wilson singled to lead off the inning, setting the stage for Mallory, who crushed a 1-2 pitch down the left field line and inside the foul pole...his 11th big fly of the year putting the Outlaws in front 3-0. Mallory would later be ejected from the game for arguing a called third strike.

Chico went up 5-0 in the 6th - Jason Van Meetren knocked in Wilson with his first triple of the season and scored on Gossage's double down the right field line...but Yuma would come back in the bottom of the 6th to plate a quick run and load the bases with nobody out. Robert Anaya came in to relieve Singleton and promptly squelched the Scorpions rally by getting pinch-hitter Kalen Norton to ground into a double play, then striking out Steve Smith. Yuma closed the gap in the 7th - Eric Pringle reached on a Gossage error and came home two batters later on a Henry Calderon groundout...then back-to-back two out doubles by Billy Malone and Juan Lebron made the score 5-3. But with the tying runs aboard, Anaya got Hector Tena to pop up to end the inning. The Outlaws would put the game away with two runs in the 8th - Gossage doubling home Wilson and Steve Booker - and George Huguet came out of the Chico bullpen to blank the Scorpions in both the 8th and 9th innings to lock down the 7-3 victory.

Singleton (5-5) struck out a pair in his five-plus innings to earn the win (his first since June 27th)...Amason (2-2) was charged with the loss. The Outlaws racked up a dozen hits - Gossage finished with a 3-for-3 night (he has now reached base in each of his last 11 plate appearances dating back to last Sunday); Wilson had two hits and scored three times...and Gandolfo went 2-for-5. The Scorpions had 10 hits in the losing effort, with Malone, Lebron and Steve Smith collecting two safeties apiece. Friday's win improved Chico's second half record to 3-2 and overall mark to 25-20...Yuma dropped to 2-3 in the second half and 20-25 on the year. The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 5:05pm - right-handers Phil Springman (3-0) and Brian Kroll (4-3) are scheduled to start for the Outlaws...the Scorpions will counter with lefty Brian Bunyan (3-3) and righty Steve Dunham (3-3).



Golden Baseball League Stories from July 22, 2006


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