Outlaws "Oh (For) Canada" As Edmonton Completes Series Sweep
July 24, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA - The Chico Outlaws are undoubtedly happy to put Canada in the rear-view mirror - after losing four straight over the weekend in Calgary, the Outlaws dropped three in a row in Edmonton as the host Cracker Cats overcame a six deficit with six runs in the 7th inning and pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Chico 8-7 and complete the series sweep Wednesday night at Telus Field.
For the first six-and-a-half innings, it looked like the Outlaws would finally snap their club record seven game losing streak - Lino Garcia's two-out RBI single in the 1st put Chico on top 2-0...then after Edmonton's Chris Van Rossum chopped the Outlaws lead in half with a solo homer in the 2nd, Chico used the long ball to go up 4-1 - Garcia smacked a solo homer in the 4th; Casey Garrison followed by belting a solo big fly in the 5th. The Outlaws added to their lead in the 6th when Shane Cronin scored from third on an Eric Pringle sacrifice fly...then in the 7th RBI singles by Garcia and Jose Valdez put Chico up 7-1.
It took until the bottom of the 7th, but the Cracker Cats finally got to Chico starter Greg Bicknell - Jordan Lundberg's bases-loaded fielder's choice grounder plated Carlos Arroyo to make the score 7-2...Marcus Nettles then singled home Jonathan Castro to trim the Outlaws lead to four. A walk to Ruddy Yan loaded the bases, setting the stage for Jose Morban, who tripled to center to clear the bases and pull Edmonton to within a run. Trevor Caughey came in from the Chico bullpen to try to protect the Outlaws 7-6 lead, but Van Rossum roped a double into the right field corner to knock in Morban and tie the game. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 9th, when, with Rob Ellis on in relief for Chico, Joe Jiannetti reached on a throwing error and was wild pitched to second. Van Rossum then lined a single to right, but Garcia gunned down Jiannetti at the plate for the second out...but the heroics were short-lived, as Arroyo shot a single up the middle to drive home Van Rossum with the game-winner, giving the Cracker Cats the series sweep and handing the Outlaws their eighth straight setback.
Pete Sikaras (2-3), the last of four pitchers used by Edmonton, got the win; Ellis (2-4) was tagged with the loss. Garcia finished the night 4-for-4 with four RBI to lead Chico...the Cracker Cats had 13 hits, with Van Rossum going 3-for-4; Arroyo also had three hits with Morban and Dan Luyben adding two apiece. Wednesday's win, the fifth straight for Edmonton, improved their second half record to 8-2 and overall mark to 30-24...Chico fell to 0-7 in the second half and 15-34 on the season. The Outlaws take Thursday off before resuming play Friday at home with the first of four against the Reno Silver Sox...left-hander Scott Navarro (0-2) will be on the mound for Chico in the series opener. First pitch is 7:05p... hear all the action with Rory Miller calling the play-by-play on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM and AM 1340; the game can also be heard on-line at www.ChicoOutlawsBaseball.com.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 24, 2008
- Flyers Slammed in St. George - Orange County Flyers
- Vipers Add Independent Star Pitcher - Calgary Vipers
- Sox Bombard Armada - Reno Silver Sox
- Armada lose again in Reno - Long Beach Armada
- Outlaws "Oh (For) Canada" As Edmonton Completes Series Sweep - Chico Outlaws
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