St. George Loses First Game of Season 8-7 to Yuma
May 25, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
St. George RoadRunners News Release
YUMA, ARIZONA - The script seemed to read the same over the first three innings Sunday night in Yuma, Arizona. The RoadRunners had a 3-0 lead and starter Eric Van Slyke was cruising, but the hometown Scorpions decided a re-write was in order. On the heels of a six-run fourth inning, Yuma was able to hold off the St. George 8-7 for their first victory of the season.
In the losing effort, St. George set a new franchise-high for stolen bases. The team swiped 10 bases shattering the old mark of six set on August 4, 2007 against the Chico Outlaws.
Van Slyke (0-1) dispatched the Scorpions over the first three innings allowing just two hits. Staked to a 3-0 lead entering the home fourth, the righty could not quell Yuma's bats. 3B Adolofo Gomez cut the lead to one with a line-drive homer to left field. The Scorpions then loaded the bases with two outs and got three consecutive run-scoring singles from Diover Avila, Adolfo Gomez and Reynaldo Rodriguez to complete the six-run frame.
St. George chipped away with an RBI sacrifice fly by D.J. Dixon in the fifth and an RBI groundout by Liu Rodriguex in the sixth.
Yuma got their go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth. Avila tripled home Jhonatan Lozada and Gomez blooped a single to right to plate Avila with the eventual game-winner.
Henry Calderon's two-run single in the seventh cut the Scorps lead to one.
The RoadRunners had a shot to tie the game in the eighth with runners at the corner and nobody out. Yosvany Almario bounced out and Alexis Gomez bounced into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
Yuma reliever Emiliano Fruto pitched a perfect ninth to secure the save for winning pitcher Reynaldo Correal.
St. George had 10 hits on the night led by Ruddy Yan with three while A.J. Valentine and Calderon each added two.
The series finale is Monday afternoon at 1pm Pacific (2pm Mountain). St. George will start RHP Monte Mansfield.
Catch all of the live action on the RoadRunners Radio Network with John Potter beginning at 1:45pm Pacific.
The RoadRunners kickoff their 2009 home schedule on Tuesday, May 26 against the Scorpions. Gates open at 6pm while a pre-game festival including face painting and entertainment from "Middle of the Road". American Idol Season 8 semi-finalist Taylor Vaifanua, from Hurricane, will sing the national anthem prior to first pitch at 7:00pm. There will be post-game fireworks to complete the Opening Day festivities. Pick up season tickets, flex passes and individual game tickets by calling the RoadRunners office at 435-673-5333.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from May 25, 2009
- Rain Shortened Win - Calgary Vipers
- RoadRunners Pound Yuma to Take Series - St. George RoadRunners
- St. George Loses First Game of Season 8-7 to Yuma - St. George RoadRunners
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- Armada Continue Road Trip in Edmonton - Long Beach Armada
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