Tucson Evens Series With 9-5 Win At St. George
Published on June 24, 2010 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Tucson Toros News Release
Smacking 14 hits and taking advantage of bases-loaded situations paced the Tucson Toros in defeating the RoadRunners 9-5 to even the three-game series at one game apiece.
Tucson (14-16) snapped a two-game skid with the victory and edged closer to GBL South leading Maui who lost for the first time in 10 games on Tuesday. The RoadRunners missed on a chance to ensure the series win dropping to 9-19 with the loss.
Reed Dickert struck out eight in six innings earning a no-decision. The loss was etched into the record of Monte Mansfield (0-3) who walked in the go-ahead run and surrendered five runs in total over an inning of work. The Toros were held in check by Rob Naegele over the final two frames.
James Garcia (2-3) got the win after leaving a tied game thanks to the Toros' three-run spurt against Mansfield in the top of the seventh.
For the second straight game, Tucson scored a run in the first - Wally Backman singled in Jose Valdez for the 1-0 lead.
Scott Clement knocked a two-run homer (1) to dead center with Brett Flowers aboard in the second inning for the âRunners advantage.
The first of two separate bases loaded, zero out scenes tallied three for Tucson in the third. Cristobal Santana lined a two-run single followed by a pop-up by Francisco Plasencia lost in the sun to left scoring another run.
St. George responded with a third inning RBI sacrifice fly from Yosvany Almario and a solo homer (3) from Jermy Acey in the sixth to tie the game.
Tuscon used another bags-full scenario to pull away. Backman walked, Santana singled and Plasencia walked with zero out. Mansfield battled to strikeout Brian Bistagne and Mike Valadez setting up a battle with pinch-hitter Vince Davis. On the payoff pitch, Mansfield's curve was just low forcing home Backman. Ryan Priddy added a two-run single to open the floodgates.
Bistagne's RBI sac fly in the eighth highlighted a two-run effort putting Tucson up 9-4.
St. George did not go down without a huge effort. STG loaded the bags with two out in the eighth, but Emiliano Fruto shut the door with a fly out. The ninth began harmlessly for Fruto before a two-out tally eventually brought the game-tying run to the plate. Pinch hitter David Ramirez was plunked, Flowers reached on a dropped third strike wild pitch and Acey drew a walk. Another walk to Carlos Sosa brought Clement to the dish. Fruto fanned Clement to end the STG rally.
Backman and Santana paced Tucson with three hits each. The RoadRunners had seven individuals tally one hit on the night.
The rubber match of the three-game set is Thursday night at Bruce Hurst Field. First pitch at 7:05pm Mountain features a battle of southpaws - St. George will start Jon Dutton (1-3, 8.39) while Tucson is expected to counter with Matt Lincoln (1-3, 4.88).
ESPN SportsRadio 1210, 102/107 Cool FM - The Fox and Network1Sports.com will have live audio coverage beginning at 7:00pm with John Potter.
Golden Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2010
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- Tucson Evens Series With 9-5 Win At St. George - Tucson Toros
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