Scorpions Fight Off Outlaws, Win Series Opener 12-9
July 28, 2007 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, CA - The Yuma Scorpions jumped out to an early 9-0 lead, then fended off two Outlaws rallies to eventually post a 12-9 victory Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Chico's Nettleton Stadium...the Scorpions beating the Outlaws for the first time this season.
Yuma started the scoring in the top of the 1st inning when Mike Goss led off the game with a single, went to third on a Jesse Kovacs throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Calderon. Maikel Jova would deliver a two-out RBI single later in the inning to plate Yosvany Almario to put the Scorpions up 2-0. In the 3rd Yuma sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring six times off Outlaws starter Tyler Pearson - Calderson started the inning with a single and scored on a pair of throwing errors...Goss and Hector Bernal each had an RBI single and Jordan Prado drove in three runs with a double down the third base line. The Scorpions made it 9-0 with a run in the 4th off Chico reliever John Segovia - Pete Farina coming through with a two-out single to center to chase home A.J. Valentine.
Yuma starting pitcher Charles Merricks cruised through the first three innings, but with a man aboard in the bottom of the 4th Daniel Nava cracked his eighth homer of the year, making the score 9-2. In the 6th the Outlaws combined two singles, two walks, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a Scorpions error to plate four more runs to pull to within 9-6...but Yuma plated an unearned run in the 7th and two more in the 8th off Chico reliever Jake McLintock to push the lead to 12-6. The Outlaws battled back in the bottom of the 9th, using a two-run double by Scott Dragicevich and an RBI single by Jason Van Meetren to once again make it a three-run game...Chico getting the potential tying run to the plate with one out. But Scorpions closer Neil Hayes got Jake Ferris to fly to shallow right field, then struck out Jason Alcott to end the threat and the game...Yuma winning its 12th game in the last 14.
Merricks (5-1) went five-plus innings to post the win, with Pearson (4-4) allowing eight runs in just three innings to take the loss. Yuma had 16 hits on the night; Jova leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance while Goss, Calderon, Farina and Bernal all pick up two hits apiece...Chico rapped out 15 hits, with Dragicevich going 4-for-5 and Van Meetren and Nava each chipping in with three hits and two RBI. Friday's loss, the Outlaws sixth in the last eight games, dropped Chico to 3-6 in the season's second half and 28-19 overall...Yuma maintains its one game lead in the Golden Baseball League's second half race with an 8-1 record...overall, the Scorpions improved to 29-18. Game two of the series is set for Saturday, with Chico sending left-hander Derrick Loop (6-3) to the mound to face righty Eric Maydew (3-1). Game time is 7:05pm...listen to all the action with "The Voice" of the Outlaws, Rory Miller, on the internet or on SportsFan 101.7 FM ESPN Radio.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 28, 2007
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- Several New Faces in the Bullpen - Reno Silver Sox
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- Silver Sox Evade Flyers - Reno Silver Sox
- Scorpions Rolls - Yuma Scorpions
- Scorpions Fight Off Outlaws, Win Series Opener 12-9 - Chico Outlaws
- Flyers Fall Late - Orange County Flyers
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