Rapidz win in slugfest
August 4, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Ottawa Voyageurs News Release
(OTTAWA, ON) Monday, August 4, 2008 - The Ottawa Rapidz welcomed the Sussex Skyhawks on Monday night at Rapidz Stadium. In what became their longest game in their young history, the Rapidz lost 11-7 against the visiting Skyhawks in 13 innings.
The Skyhawks enjoyed an early lead when they scored thrice in the top of the first inning. The Rapidz committed three errors, including one by the starter Mike Kusiewicz. Kusiewicz allowed only one hit in the inning, however it was a long one as Chris Brown hit it over the fence for a two-run shot, his sixth homerun of the season.
The Rapidz came back from behind in the bottom of the inning and took the lead. Jared Lemieux walked to lead off the inning, advance to third on Jake Daubert's single and then scored on Jabe Bergeron's double. Both Daubert and Bergeron scored on a single by Kyle Geiger to tie the game. Nate Hall added a single to score Geiger and give the Rapidz a 4-3 lead.
Sussex tied the game at four in the top of the second on a single by Jorge Moreno. Ottawa took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth. Bergeron and Geiger doubled and Jereme Milons hit into a double play to make it a 6-4 game in favour of the Rapidz.
The Skyhawks scored three times in the top of the seventh to gain control of the game. Matthew Weston hit a two-run homerun, his league-leading fifteen of the season. Jay Yaconetti added a single to produce the third run of the inning and give his team a 7-6 lead. The home team tied the game at seven in the bottom of the seventh thanks to doubles by Bergeron and Pete Pirman resulting in a run.
In extra innings, Sussex scored four runs in the top of the 13th inning to steal the win. The Skyhawks collected four hits and walked twice to manufacture their runs against Ottawa hurlers Cardoza Tucker and Jacob Ramos.
Five pitchers worked on both sides. Tucker (0-3) suffered the loss for the Rapidz, while Jaime Douglas (1-1) earned the win for Sussex.
Before the game, the Rapidz announced two transactions. Ottawa signed rookie catcher Kevin Butler a 24-year old Rock Hill, SC native. Butler started the season with the Chillicothe Paints in the Frontier League and in 34 games with the Paints he produced a .238 batting average, with 20 hits and nine RBIs. The 5'11", 195-pounder bats and throws right. The Rapidz then announced the release of infielder Juan Infante. Infante had been suspended earlier in the day by the Can-Am League authorities for an incident that took place in New Jersey on Sunday night.
The second game of this series is scheduled for Tuesday night, August 5, at 7:05pm. Gary Galvez (2-5, 6.34 ERA) and Fraser Robinson (3-6, 5.42 ERA) will be the starters for Sussex and Ottawa respectively.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 4, 2008
- Tucker garners award - New Jersey Jackals
- Rapidz win in slugfest - Ottawa Voyageurs
- Can-Am Leage recap August 5 - Can-Am
- Surf can't avoid Tornadoes path - Atlantic City Surf
- Tornadoes cruise to easy win - Worcester Tornadoes
- Brockton rallied down 4-0 late but left the game-tying run at third base - Brockton Rox
- Tickets going fast for Friday night - Atlantic City Surf
- Week ahead for Surf - Atlantic City Surf
- Weston, Tucker - Can-Am League Players of the Week - Can-Am
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