Seals Derailed In Top Of The Ninth
July 18, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Victoria Seals News Release
Victoria, BC - Hoping to stretch out a three-game win streak, the Victoria Seals returned to Royal Athletic Park on Friday night to take on the Edmonton Capitals in game two of a four-game set. With the visitors sending Kris Honel (3-3) to the hill, the Seals handed the ball to Roberto Sotolongo (2-1) for the start.
Taking the lead in the top of the second frame, Edmonton used a lead-off base hit from Aaron Hornostaj, followed by a walk to Chad Ehrnsberger to put two runners on without an out. Then, after a walk to Matt Ceriani loaded the bases, a double-play ball from Marcus Nettles was overthrown to first by Wilver Perez, allowing a pair of runners to score for an early 2-0 Edmonton lead.
Answering right back in the bottom half of the inning, Victoria drew a lead-off walk to Josh Arhart and then knotted the game on a two-run home run from Brian Rios, his fourth of the season. But it would be the Capitals striking again in the top of the third, when Joey Gomes was hit by a pitch, Hornostaj picked up a walk and Ehrnsberger doubled home two more runs for a 4-2 lead - all with two outs in the frame.
After a scoreless fourth inning sent the game to the bottom of the fifth, the Seals clawed within one of Edmonton when a sacrifice fly from Jamar Hill cashed in Bret LeVier, who kicked off the inning with a walk. With both starters giving way to the bullpen in the sixth inning, the game remained 4-3 until the bottom of the eighth.
That's when Victoria would tie the game on back-to-back two-out singles from Carlos Duncan and Brett Flowers to score Petie Montero, on in place of Arhart who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
With the score knotted into the ninth inning, the Capitals jumped on closer Ethan Katz. Starting the rally as the first batter in the frame, Marcus Nettles picked up a single and stole both second and third to stand 90 feet from a one-run Edmonton lead. After Cortes was walked and Brinkley hit by a pitch, a big double play off of the bat of Walter Young gave Katz an opportunity to work out of the jam. After electing to intentionally walk Gomes, however, a walk to Hornostaj and a well-timed double from Ehrnsberger gave the Capitals a commanding 8-4 advantage in the game's final inning.
Turning to Jason Pearson in the bottom of the ninth, the Edmonton closer retired three of the four batters he faced to hand the visitors an 8-4 victory, snapping the Seals three-game win streak. Middle-reliever Todd Privett gets credit for the win, while Ethan Katz drops to 1-2 with the loss. Chad Ehrnsberger bolstered the offence for Edmonton, finishing 2-for-3 with 5 RBI's while Brian Rios went 2-for-4 in the losing effort for the Seals.
Full boxscore: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=1936
The Seals play game number three, another rubber match against Edmonton, tomorrow night at Royal Athletic Park, when McDonald's will play host to Kid's Night! Get your tickets online now at www.selectyourtickets.com, or by phone at (250) 220-7777. The game will also be broadcast live on www.victoriaseals.ca.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 18, 2009
- Comeback Stretches Winning Streak to 13 - Calgary Vipers
- Toros Wrap Up First Half With 6-3 Win - Tucson Toros
- Seals Derailed In Top Of The Ninth - Victoria Seals
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