Seals Let One Slip Away In Arizona

July 25, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Victoria Seals News Release


Tucson, AZ - In search of an end to their three-game losing skid, the Seals returned to action on Friday night with their first ever trip to Hi Corbett Field to start a series against the Tucson Toros. With the home side turning to ace Lorenzo Barcelo (5-5) on the mound, Victoria welcomed Isaac Hess (8-0) back to the lineup with a start in game one.

Making their Arizona debut, the Seals' got just the start they were looking for in the top of the first frame. Wilver Perez launched the game's fourth pitch to straight away centrefield for a 1-0 lead, before Sergio Pedroza made it back-to-back home runs to put Victoria up by a pair. Then, still without an out in the ballgame, Jamar Hill singled, Josh Arhart stretched the score to 3-0 with a double and Brett Flowers capped off the inning with an extra-base hit of his own for a four-run advantage.

The Toros would provide a response in the bottom of the opening frame, however, when a lead-off walk to Skip Adams advanced to third on a double from Dustin Yount, and Lino Garcia cut the Seals' lead in half with a two-RBI single.

Tucson then drew within one of the visitors in the bottom of the second inning, using lead-off double from Andre Marshall and a groundout off the bat of Luis Apodaca to bring the score to 4-3. Capitalizing on another lead-off hit in the third, the Toros would rally to take a one-run lead thanks to another two-RBI hit from Garcia, this time a double down the line for a 5-4 Tucson advantage.

With Barcelo settling into a groove on the mound for the home side, retiring 13 consecutive Victoria batters through five scoreless innings, the game went to the eighth inning still with a one-run lead in favour of Tucson on the board. But a double from Josh Arhart, followed by walks to Flowers and Gabriel Riley loaded the bases for a pinch-hit single to tie the game by Matt Kavanaugh.

As the contest shifted to the bottom of the ninth inning, Dane De La Rosa made his first appearance on the hill in place of middle reliever Eduardo Baeza. Allowing a double from Mayobanex Santana to start the inning, De La Rosa was then forced to walk the bases loaded with just one out in the frame, which set up a game-winning single from Junior Spivey to hand the Toros a 6-5 walk-off win.

Isaac Hess remains at 8-0 on the season after taking the no decision, while Dane De La Rosa takes the loss in his debut for the Seals. Lino Garcia paced the Toros with 2 hits and 4 RBI's in the series opener, while Josh Arhart was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in the losing effort for Victoria

Full boxscore: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=1961

This three-game set against the Toros continues tomorrow night, when the two teams lock horns in game two. Start time is 7:00 p.m. (PT), and the game will be broadcast live on www.victoriaseals.ca.

Victoria returns to Royal Athletic Park on July 28 when the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch will be on display to kick off the final series of the year against the Edmonton Capitals! Get your tickets online now at www.selectyourtickets.com, or by phone at (250) 220-7777.



Golden Baseball League Stories from July 25, 2009


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