Outlaws Lose But Still In First
August 26, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
The Outlaws continued their dismal play against the Reno Silver Sox Friday night but dodged a major bullet, as they will start tomorrow tied for first place, just like they did Friday. Chico is now 3-10 against Reno this season and has lost four of the last five contests between the teams.
The blow of the 8-5 loss to Reno was softened because the Fullerton Flyers also lost Friday, 12-2 in Long Beach. With three games remaining in the second half, the Outlaws and Flyers remain tied, and Chico holds the tiebreaker in the event of a tie at the end of the season.
Outlaws starter Brian Kroll looked to become the league's first 10-game winner but lasted just 3 1/3 innings on the way to his fifth loss of the season. He gave up seven runs, three earned, walked two and hit a batter in his short stint on the mound. Robert Anaya and Trevor Caughey finished the game for Chico and combined to allow just an unearned run.
Demond Smith led off the game with a homer for Reno but the Outlaws quickly countered with two runs in the bottom half. Bobby Gandolfo ripped a one-out single and with two out, Mike Mallory drew a walk. Jason Van Meetren delivered his first of two clutch hits with a line-drive single up the middle that plated Gandolfo and Jim Wallace came through next with a bloop double that scored Mallory and gave Chico a 2-1 lead.
Reno busted the game open in the next inning with a four-run rally despite collecting just one hit. Masashi Chikazawa and James Shanks led off with consecutive walks and Jesse Kovacs' error loaded the bases. After Lou Lucca's sacrifice fly, Mike Done ripped a single that went under centerfielder Lino Garcia's glove and scored two. Smith added an RBI groundout later to give Reno a 5-2 advantage.
While Reno starter Nat Harris was keeping the Outlaws offense at bay, the Silver Sox continued to add runs. Done and C.J. Lang each banged RBI doubles in the fourth and Reno added another in the fifth when Shanks scored on a passed ball. Harris picked up his first win of the season with five innings of work and four hits allowed. He yielded two runs, struck out five and walked five.
Down 8-2, Chico started its comeback attempt in the seventh. Henry Calderon, Bobby Gandolfo and Desi Wilson all reached consecutively before Van Meetren cleared the sacks with a line-drive double to the leftfield fence. Van Meetren finished the night 2 for 3 with four RBI, while Gandolfo was 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
Unfortunately for the home team, that was where the rally ended. Mike McTamney silenced the Outlaws' bats over the final two innings as he recorded his second save of the season.
Fireworks are scheduled for after Saturday's game, which starts at 7:05 p.m. at Nettleton Stadium. Ben Thurmond (8-4) will take the mound for Reno while the Outlaws will send lefty Grant Gregg (8-5). With just three games left on the schedule, this weekend is sure to be chuck-full of pennant race baseball. Get your tickets at www.chicooutlawsbaseball.com or by calling (530) 345-3210.
Golden Baseball League Stories from August 26, 2006
- Outlaws Lose But Still In First - Chico Outlaws
- Flyers Lose But Still Remain in First Place Tie - Orange County Flyers
- San Diego Surf Dawgs 7, Yuma Scorpions 5 - San Diego Surf Dawgs
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