Silver Sox stop Chico win streak at three
June 9, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, CA - Edgar Varela blasted a three-run homer and later added a two-run single to provide Ben Thurmond and the Reno Silver Sox with plenty of offense to down the Chico Outlaws 7-3 Thursday in the opener of a two game mini-series at Nettleton Stadium. The win - Reno's third in a row - vaulted the Silver Sox over the Outlaws and into sole possession of first place in the Golden Baseball League standings.
Chico's Grant Gregg, last season's GBL Pitcher of the Year, struggled for the second time this season and didn't survive the 3rd inning. In the top of the 1st Gregg walked both Victor Hall and Marcus Jensen, setting the stage for Varela, who pulled a full-count pitch over the right field wall to quickly put Reno on top 3-0. The Silver Sox plated four more off Gregg in the 3rd - with runners at second and third, Varela rifled a base hit into center field, knocking in Jensen and Mike Done. Doug Gredvig followed with a double, and three batters later Carlos Madrid lined a double down the left field line to chase home Varela and Gredvig and make the score 7-0. Thurmond, meanwhile, kept the Outlaws offense in check through six innings - the only mistake he made was in the 4th when Mike Mallory bombed a solo homer to left to get Chico on the board.
It stayed 7-1 until the 8th when the Outlaws began a two-out rally against Reno reliever Mike McKernan - Craig Kuzmic walked and went to third on a double to left by Lino Garcia. Jim Wallace promptly singled home Kuzmic...Garcia scoring on a base hit to center by Jesse Kovacs to trim the Silver Sox lead to four. But McKernan stiffened, striking out Jason Van Meetren to end the inning...Scott Schneider then came to toss a scoreless 9th to lock down Reno's 7-3 victory.
Thurmond (2-0) fanned eight in his six innings of work to pick up the win, while Gregg (0-2) was saddled with the loss. Despite losing, Chico (now 5-3 on the year) out-hit the Silver Sox 13-6 - Garcia went 3-for-4 on the night, with Kuzmic, Wallace and Kovacs chipping in with two safeties apiece...Varela led Reno (now 5-2 on the year) with two hits and five RBI. Game two of the series is set for Friday, with right-hander Chris Searle (2-0) scheduled to start for the Outlaws...Mike Spiegel (0-0) will take the mound for the Silver Sox. Game time is 7:05pm.
Golden Baseball League Stories from June 9, 2006
- Dawgs Disallowed at Tony Gwynn Stadium - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Yuma Scorpions and the Golden Baseball League Secure First Television Broadcast Deal - Yuma Scorpions
- Silver Sox stop Chico win streak at three - Chico Outlaws
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