Outlaws Split DH as Ryder Dazzles
July 19, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
After a heartbreaking extra inning loss in the opener, Mikael Ryder (pictured) picks up his team and deals a gem, throwing a 7 inning complete game shutout in his first start as a professional.
In a long day at the ballpark, the Outlaws finish strong with a thunderous 10-0 lashing of the Vipers to earn a split in the doubleheader.
The first ballgame was an extra-inning thriller, but the Outlaws dropped a 7-6 decision in nine innings after the Vipers drew a bases-loaded walk to break through.
Mikael Ryder was the story of the game two victory. The 23 year old rookie, in his first start as a professional, would dazzle with a 7 inning complete game four-hit shutout. Ryder struck out nine batters and after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, he would settle in and only allow one basehit the rest of the way. Ryder now has an amazing 39/2 K to BB ratio, and improved his record to 2-0.
The offense responded to Ryder's strong performance with a 16 hit, 10 run output. BJ Underkofler ignited the first rally of the evening by battling back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk and keep the 4th inning alive with two outs. On the very next pitch, Dan Luyben laced a double down the rightfield line and Underkofler would score would what prove to be the game-winning run. Blake Gailen followed Luyben with his own slicing line drive double down the leftfield line, and after the Outlaws turn in the 4th, they lead 2-0.
The knockout punch would come in the 5th inning when Chico batted around and posted 5 more runs. The first three men would reach base to begin the inning, and Underkofler notched an RBI single ahead of a bases-loaded three run double from Blake Gailen that would make the score 7-0.
The Outlaws had one more outburst in the 7th and final inning, scoring 3 more runs on consecutive RBI singles from Shane Cronin, Rich Janeway and Norm Hutchins. Ryder would then finish the ballgame strong, retiring the Vipers in order to close out the ballgame, and notching his 9th strikeout in the final inning to show his stuff was still strong.
The 10-0 victory snapped a five game losing skid, and notched both the team's 20th victory of the season and their first win in the second half (1-3).
Blake Gailen finished game two 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on two doubles. BJ Underkofler would finish 2-for3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Rich Janeway also had a nice night, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, run scored, and an RBI.
Now back to the first game...
It was an offensive affair right from the get-go, as each team scored in their first three at-bats. The Outlaws broke a 2-2 tie with a big four-run 4th inning, staking Wayne Franklin out to a 6-2 lead. Bryan Silverman, Matt DeJesus, and Blake Gailen strung together consecutive RBI doubles after a Jason Crosland sacrifice-fly began the scoring.
However, the league-leading offense of the Calgary Vipers would answer with a single tally in the 3rd, and a three run 4th inning that tied the game at 6 and chased Franklin from the mound.
From that point out, the game tightened up, and in scheduled 7 inning affair, these two ballclubs would play their second extra-inning game of the series, and third of the season in just 7 meetings.
Outlaws reliever Jesse Oster saved the day twice, getting his team out of bases-loaded one-out jams in both the 7th and 8th inning with the game-winning run just 90 feet away. However, the magic would run out in the 9th when for the third inning in a row, Calgary loaded the bases and Fehlandt Lentini would draw a walk to force in the winning run.
The Outlaws left 7 men stranded on base in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings, missing their chance to take game one.
The series concludes Sunday afternoon with a 1:35 p.m. first pitch. Michael Martin will go to the mound against Vipers ace Joe Sergent.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 19, 2009
- Seals Stymied by Capitals - Victoria Seals
- Sergent Tosses Seven Scoreless Innings - Calgary Vipers
- Tucson's Second Half Starts With 6-2 Loss - Tucson Toros
- Capitals put together 15 hits for a 13-8 victory - Victoria Seals
- Outlaws Split DH as Ryder Dazzles - Chico Outlaws
- Ryder Snaps Winning Streak at 13 - Calgary Vipers
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