Outlaws, Scorpions Split Double Dip
August 4, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
REDDING - Pitching took center stage, as the Chico Outlaws and Yuma Scorpions split a pair of games on Wednesday night at Tiger Field. Brandon Fowler's game winning homer in the top half of the seventh, his first of the season, gave Chico a 2-1 victory in game one. A two-run homer from Zach Larson was the difference in game two, as the Scorpions held to win 4-2.
In the first game, Chico's Johnny Bravo and Yuma's James Garcia locked horns in a pitchers duel. Bobby Hill's RBI single in the third gave Chico a 1-0 lead. It would stay that way until the sixth. Tony Phillips drew a leadoff walk and Jose Canseco followed with a sharp single to right. Two batters later, J.J. Muse drove in Phillips with a sacrifice fly to tie the ballgame.
Fowler's homer to left came with two out in the seventh and Jake Muyco got the final three outs (two on strikeouts) in the bottom of the frame, enabling Chico to hold on for a one-run win. Bravo pitched 5.1 strong innings and got a no decision. The southpaw scattered five hits and allowed just one run, with four walks and a strikeout. Travis Kane (4-3) pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief to earn the win. Muyco picked up his sixth save in as many opportunities.
Garcia (1-1) took the hard luck loss for the Scorpions. He pitched a seven-inning complete game, allowing only three hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out four.
Game two was scoreless until the third, when Yuma scored all four of their runs against Chico starting pitcher Evan White. Joey Gathright reached on a leadoff walk. Jared McDonald followed by reaching on a fielders choice, as Gathright was forced out at second. Then, the big bats for Yuma did big damage. Back-to-back doubles by Arnaldo Ponce and Gerardo Avila, gave them a 2-0 advantage. Larson followed with a deep homer to the opposite field in right center, giving the Scorpions a 4-0 lead they would never relinquish.
Chico got themselves on the board in the fourth, as Al Quintana scored on a dropped fly ball by Jose Canseco in right field, and Jake Rife came in on an RBI single by Pat Terry. However, the Outlaws would get no closer. Chico threatened in the ninth against Yuma closer Chris Thompson, but Bobby Hill grounded into a double play to end the game with the potential tying runs on base.
Eric Stolp (4-3) picked up the win in just his third start of the season. The righty pitched four strong innings, allowing only two hits and two runs, neither of which was earned. He walked two and struck out three. Jacob Wiley pitched two shutout innings out of the pen for Yuma. White (1-2) took the loss, but did pitch a six-inning complete game for the Outlaws. He gave up seven hits and four runs, while walking one and striking out five. Thompson, recently acquired from Lake County, tallied his third save with Yuma and fifteenth overall.
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