Outlaws go 14 Innings, Lose to Surf Dawgs
Published on July 8, 2006 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
SAN DIEGO, CA - The Chico Outlaws first half playoff hopes took a huge hit Friday in their series opener against the San Diego Surf Dawgs - despite leading five times in the contest, Chico saw the Surf Dawgs score three runs in the bottom of the 14th inning to pull out a 10-9 victory in front of nearly 1,700 at Tony Gwynn Stadium on the San Diego State campus.
Chico took a quick 1-0 lead when Bobby Gandolfo tripled with one out in the 1st inning and scored on a Desi Wilson sacrifice fly. San Diego answered with two runs in the bottom of the 1st, aided by three Outlaws errors...but in the 2nd Chico went back up 3-2 - Craig Kuzmic tripled and cam home on a sac fly off the bat of Jason Van Meetren; later in the inning Lino Garcia walked, stole second and scored on a Jesse Kovacs single to center.
Johnny Day's RBI double plated Adam Mandel in the bottom of the 3rd to knot up the score at three apiece...then in the 5th San Diego took a 5-3 lead when Mandel tripled home Kevin Ciarrachi and later scored on a Seth Pietsch single. It stayed that way until the 7th, when Garcia launched his first home run of the season with two aboard, putting Chico back out in front 6-5. Outlaws reliever Jake McKinley shut down the San Diego offense in the 7th and 8th innings, but in the 9th the Surf Dawgs pushed across the tying run off George Huguet to force extra innings - Matt Maloney led off the inning with a double and came home two batters later on a Ciarrachi sacrifice fly.
Chico regained the lead in the 11th when Todd Gossage singled off San Diego reliever Josh Rummonds to plate Kuzmic and make the score 7-6...but in the bottom of the 11th Maloney coaxed a leadoff walk from Outlaws reliever A.J. Ampi and eventually scored on a fielder's choice grounder. It stayed knotted up at seven until the 14th, when Mike Mallory doubled off the left field wall to knock in Kovacs and Wilson and give Chico a seemingly comfortable 9-7 advantage. But once again the Surf Dawgs fought back - two singles and a walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the 14th...Scott Goodman then ripped a two-run single to right to tie the game. Two batters later the game was finally over - Nick Guerra's sacrifice fly drove home Matt Connolly with the game-winner to give San Diego the series opening victory. The game lasted nearly five hours.
Reliever Joe Safken (1-0) - the last of five pitchers used by the Surf Dawgs - picked up the win, while Ampi (0-1) suffered the loss for the Outlaws. Chico totaled 18 hits on the night - Kuzmic had four, while Kovacs, Gandolfo and Jason Matteucci had three apiece - but the Outlaws left 17 runners on base. San Diego's 14-hit attack was led by Mandel (4-for-7). With Friday's win, the Surf Dawgs improved to 14-21 on the year while the Outlaws slipped to 19-16. Chico's loss, combined with Reno's 7-2 victory over Long Beach, dropped Chico three back of the league-leading Silver Sox with just five games left to play in the season's first half. Game two of the series is set for Saturday with right-hander Nick Singleton (4-3) on the mound for the Outlaws...the Surf Dawgs will counter with lefty Steve Smyth (1-0). Game time is 6:05pm.
Golden Baseball League Stories from July 8, 2006
- Outlaws go 14 Innings, Lose to Surf Dawgs - Chico Outlaws
- Three Comebacks Lead to Unbelievable Victory For Dawgs - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Flyers Walk-Off Winners - Orange County Flyers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
