Scorpions explode in ninth to top Outlaws
Published on August 11, 2006 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
The Yuma Scorpions played small ball to take an early lead Thursday at Nettleton Stadium, but they used the long ball to break a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth and cruise to an 8-3 victory over the Chico Outlaws. The win gave Yuma a 2-1 series victory and improved their second half record to 8-15. Chico falls to 16-7 and their second-half lead in the Golden Baseball League was trimmed to just 1/2 game as the Fullerton Flyers came back from a 2-0 deficit in the ninth and won 3-2 against Long Beach.
After the offense tied the game at three in the eighth inning on Todd Gossage's RBI single, the Outlaws bullpen coughed-up the lead in the ninth when George Huguet allowed a grand slam to Jacob Guzman. Eric Pringle added an RBI later in the inning to give the Scorpions an 8-3 lead that would stand. Jake McKinley (0-2) took the loss for Chico after he allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings while Yuma reliever Roger Luque threw 2 1/3 innings of one-run relief to get his first win of the season.
Chico opened the scoring in the second inning when Craig Kuzmic drew a one-out walk and came around to score on Jason Van Meetren's double. Lino Garcia singled Van Meetren home later in the inning to give the home team an early 2-0 lead.
The Scorpions answered back quickly, using station-to-station baseball on their way to a three-run third inning. The first four Yuma hitters all singled and after an RBI hit, a sacrifice fly and a groundout, the visitors seized a 3-2 lead. That 3-2 score lasted all the way until the eighth.
Neither starter factored in the decision. Yuma's Chris Langlois went 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits while Chico lefthander Grant Gregg lasted seven-plus innings and gave up three runs and eight hits.
There were some worthwhile achievements from Outlaws players despite the loss. Craig Kuzmic set a team record with four walks in the game and he officially went 0 for 0 with two runs scored. Also, Desi Wilson extended his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games.
Wilson and his teammates will look to get back in the win column Friday in Long Beach, the first game of a monster road trip that will take the Outlaws to four different cities. They will play 13 games over the course of 14 days while traveling to Long Beach, Yuma, Fullerton and Reno.
Golden Baseball League Stories from August 11, 2006
- Adam Mandel Named Breitbard Star of the Month - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Members of the Long Beach Armada to Participate in Multi-Sport Challenge - Long Beach Armada
- Morales Strokes Victory - Orange County Flyers
- Scorpions explode in ninth to top Outlaws - Chico Outlaws
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