Outlaws Take Down Scorpions 11-7 in Series Finale
August 28, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
EL CENTRO, CA - Despite letting three leads get away, the Chico Outlaws used a four run 9th inning to defeat the Yuma Scorpions 11-7 Wednesday night at Stark Field in El Centro, California...Chico winning the rubber match of a three-game series and all but ending Yuma's chances for a post-season berth.
The Outlaws took an early 2-0 lead when Bryan Silverman's two-out bloop triple down the right field line plated Todd Gossage and Julian Benavidez in the top of the 1st...but Yuma knotted up the score in the bottom of the inning when Henry Calderon and Maikel Jova each blasted solo homers off Chico starting pitcher Scott Navarro. The Outlaws went back out in front in the 3rd as Silverman singled home Dan Luyben...then in the 4th Chico went up 5-2 on back-to-back solo homers by Chris Corso (the first of his pro career) and Matt Ceriani. The Scorpions came back in the bottom of the 4th - a two-run triple by Ryan Barba and a Hanseld Diaz sacrifice fly tied up the contest at five apiece.
Chico took advantage of two Dionys Cesar throwing errors to plate a pair of unearned runs in the 5th to go up 7-5...Navarro and Outlaws reliever Ben Shockey made the lead stand up until the bottom of the 8th, when once again Yuma drew even - Calderon, who reached on a Luyben error, scored on a double play grounder...then Rich Janeway came across with the tying run on a two-out RBI single by Jose Rodriguez. Chico grabbed the lead for good in the 9th - Todd Gossage led off the inning with a single off Scorpions reliever Chris Luera...then with James Garcia summoned from the Yuma bullpen, Benavidez walked and the Outlaws promptly pulled a double steal as Silverman struck out. Jesse Kovacs was walked intentionally to load the bases...but Corso thwarted the strategy with a sacrifice fly to left, plating Gossage to put Chico back on top 8-7. Four pitches later the Outlaws lead was four, as Ceriani bombed his second homer of the contest (the first multi-homer game of his 10-year pro career) to make the score 11-7. Chico reliever Todd Gelatka came on to retire the Scorpions in order in the bottom of the 9th to seal the Outlaws fourth victory in their last five games.
Shockey (3-1) got credit for the victory, with Luera (2-2) taking the loss. Silverman went 3-for-4 and racked up three RBI to lead Chico's 11-hit attack; Ceriani finished 2-for-5 with four RBI. Yuma also had 11 hits on the night, with Calderon, Jova, Rodriguez and Barba each rapping out a pair of hits. Wednesday's win improved the Outlaws second half record to 17-24 and overall mark to 32-51...Yuma dropped to 20-20 in the second half and 44-39 for the year. The Outlaws take Thursday off before returning home to Nettleton Stadium Friday to host the St. George Roadrunners in the opener of the final series of the regular season...right-hander Greg Bicknell (5-4) will get the start for Chico; righty Mac Nelson (3-0) is expected to throw for the Roadrunners. Game time is 7:05pm... 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 August 28, 2008
- 'Cats sweep Vipers, winning 8-3 - Edmonton Capitals
- Eight Run Inning Sinks Snakes - Calgary Vipers
- Outlaws Take Down Scorpions 11-7 in Series Finale - Chico Outlaws
- Fan Appreciation Night is Tonight - Reno Silver Sox
- Alexander Hits Massive HR in Loss - Reno Silver Sox
- RoadRunners Continue to Roll Over Sox - St. George RoadRunners
- Snakes Squander Seven Run Lead - Calgary Vipers
- 'Cats claw back in extra innings, winning 8-7 - Edmonton Capitals
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