Seven Run 9th Inning Gives Yuma 10-6 Win Over Chico
May 23, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
YUMA, AZ - The Yuma Scorpions spoiled the managerial debut of Chico's Jon Macalutas, and they did it in dramatic style - capped off by a walk-off grand slam by Rich Janeway, the Scorpions plated seven runs in the bottom of the 9th inning Thursday to stun the Outlaws 10-6 in the 2008 GBL season opener played at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma.
The come-from-behind win also negated a fine pitching performance by Outlaws lefty Derrick Loop. The league's winningest pitcher a year ago, Loop tossed five innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits and striking out five. Chico staked him to an early lead by plating a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning - Todd Gossage delivered an RBI single to plate Steve Boggs and Jose Valdez knocked in Jesse Kovacs with an opposite-field single to left. The Outlaws went up 4-0 in the 3rd with two more runs off Yuma starter Roger Luque - Kovacs led off the inning with a double, went to third on a base hit by Gossage and scored on a Valdez single to center...Gossage came home on an RBI single by Lino Garcia. In the 5th Casey Garrison doubled home Valdez to put Chico up 5-0.
The Scorpions climbed back into the contest with three runs in the 6th off Outlaws reliever Rudy Quinonez, but Chico answered back with a run in the 7th when Garcia scored from third on a Andrew Alvarado wild pitch to give the Outlaws a 6-3 advantage. That was the score heading into the bottom of the 9th when Todd Gelatka, last season's GBL Pitcher of the Year and saves leader, came on to close it out. He didn't record a single out - consecutive singles by Ryan Barba, A.J. Valentine and Henry Calderon made it a 6-4 ballgame, and following a base hit by Jeff Van Houten, Maikel Jova ripped a bases-loaded double to plate Valentine and Calderon and knot up the game at six apiece. The Outlaws walked Jeremy Cleveland intentionally to load the bases, setting the stage for Janeway, who belted Gelatka's 1-1 pitch over the right field wall to end the game and give the Scorpions the amazing come-from-behind victory.
Jack Jensen (1-0), the last of four pitchers used by Yuma, got credit for the victory with Gelatka (0-1) taking the loss for Chico. Both teams had 14 hits on the night - Kovacs led the Outlaws by going 4-for-4 and scoring twice...Valdez had three hits and a pair of RBI. Jova had three hits to pace the Scorpions, with Janeway, Valentine and Barba chipping in with two apiece. Game two of the four-game season-opening series is set for Friday, with the Outlaws sending right-hander Chris Malone to the mound...the Scorpions counter with righty Jorge Perez. Game time is 7:00pm; listen to all the action with the Voice of the Outlaws, Rory Miller, beginning at 6:35pm on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM and 1340 AM, or on-line at www.ChicoOutlawsBaseball.com.
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