Rain Delay Doesn't Hamper Charging Toros
June 14, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
St. George RoadRunners News Release
ST. GEORGE - The Tucson Toros (7-8) needed only three scoring innings to post an 11-8 victory over the St. George RoadRunners (14-7) on Saturday afternoon. A 44-minute rain delay could not cool off the Tucson bats which exploded for three homers.
St. George took an early three-run lead after the first. Angel Sanchez and A.J. Valentine each doubled home a run while a returning Henry Calderon singled home the third tally with a single to left.
RoadRunner starting pitcher Mac Nelson learned in the next half inning the price of walking opposing hitters. A lead-off walk to Mayobanex Sanchez and a pair of one-out passes to Luis Apodaca and a debuting Ryan Priddy loaded the bases. After a fly ball from Skip Adams, LF Lino Garcia lifted a grand slam to left-center and gave the Toros a 4-3 lead. A fielding error put Dustin Yount aboard with two down and CF Andre Marshall took Nelson's first pitch over the wall for a two-run shot.
Tucson led 6-3 before St. George answered in the home second. Two walks and a Ruddy Yan double loaded the bags for Valentine. A solid single to right field plated a pair, but a third run fell short when Valentine was caught in a pickle between first and second for the third out.
The Tucson 6-5 lead held until the sixth inning when Yan singled home Ryan Stevenson who walked and stole second with two outs.
Both clubs played long ball in the seventh inning. DH Jim Rushford slugged his first home run of the season, a two-run bomb to right, for the Toros. Yosvany Almario answered with a homer to left to once again knot the game.
The visitors pulled ahead for good off the relief trio of Justin Abbott (L, 0-1), Julio Castro and Eude Brito. Abbott walked Priddy and allowed a single off the third base bag to Adams. After Castro got Garcia to fly out, Brito entered the game and surrendered the game-winning single to Yount. Tucson added two insurance run with RBI singles by Rushford and Santana.
Toro pitcher Jordan Muir tossed the final three innings and retired the last seven in a row to earn his first win of the year.
Sunday is a scheduled off day. The series finale is Monday night at Bruce Hurst Field. St. George will throw LHP Luis Gonzalez (2-3, 5.19) in his fifth start of the year. Gonzalez lost his last start in Calgary on June 8. First pitch is scheduled at 7:05pm.
Live audio coverage begins with the Infowest Pre-Game Show with John Potter at 6:45pm.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from June 14, 2009
- Capitals Wheel and Deal On Current Road Trip - Edmonton Capitals
- Victoria Seals Fall Short in Series Finale - Victoria Seals
- Five Run Sixth Gives Snakes Series - Calgary Vipers
- Seals Cannot Contain Vipers - Victoria Seals
- Rain Delay Doesn't Hamper Charging Toros - St. George RoadRunners
- Castro Knocks in Seven - Calgary Vipers
- Toros Defeat Roadrunners - Tucson Toros
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