Vipers Give Up Nine Unanswered Runs

June 30, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers got scored on in five straight innings and lost 9-7 to the St. George RoadRunners at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George, Utah. After going up 3-0 in the game, Calgary saw St. George score nine in a row before the Vipers made it interesting with four late runs. The Vipers hit three two-run homers on the night but also struck out 12 times. With the loss Calgary's five game winning streak comes to an end while the RoadRunners (22-11) have now won five in a row. The Snakes are now 20-11 and are up a couple games in the Golden Baseball League's North Division.

Eric Van Slyke (3-3) picked up the win in the game in striking out nine batters in six and a third innings while Bartolome Fortunato (7) took the save in striking out one in the ninth. Erik Dessau (3-1) registered his first defeat of the season in giving up eight earned runs in five and a third innings while handing out six free passes and also striking out six.

Calgary opened up the scoring right away in the top of the first inning as Nelson Castro singled and Jorge Mejia hit his third home run of the season. Joe Jiannetti followed by reaching on a error by shortstop Eric Pringle, Colin Moro singled, and Drew Miller drove in a run with a base hit for a 3-0 lead.

St. George responded in the bottom of the second as Jose Rodriguez singled and with two outs Henry Calderon nailed a two run shot for a 3-2 score.

The RoadRunners tied the game at 3-3 an inning later in the third as Ryan Stevenson doubled, reached third base on a error, and scored on a Ruddy Yan sacrifice fly.

In the home half of the fourth St. George took their first lead of the game at 4-3 as Yosvany Almario singled, stole second base, moved to third on a Stevenson groundout, and scored when Ruddy Yan reached on a fielding error by shortstop Castro.

A run was added to the lead in the fifth as the RoadRunners scored for the fourth consecutive inning when Rodriguez walked, Cody Nowlin singled, and Calderon drove in a tally with a base hit for a 5-3 advantage.

St. George blew the game open in the sixth frame as Stevenson walked, Yan singled, Angel Sanchez plated a run with a base hit, Valentine also cashed a run with a single, Cody Nowlin walked, and Calderon got a great bounce for a two-run base hit and four runs scored in the inning for a 9-3 lead.

The Vipers got two runs back in the next half inning as Rick Guarno doubled and Fehlandt Lentini hammered his fifth big fly of the season for a 9-5 score.

Calgary got within two runs at 9-7 in the top of the eighth as Miller singled and Mark Okano lined his third long ball of the year.

This first-place showdown continues against the south division leading RoadRunners on Wednesday July 1st, Thursday July 2nd, and Friday July 3rd all at 7:05 PM MDT with Reggie Rivard (3-1) against Raymar Diaz (2-0), Joe Sergent (3-2) against David Seccombe (3-1), and Hideki Nagasaka (2-0) toeing the rubber against Mac Nelson (4-0).

For two days on Saturday July 4th at 8:00 PM MDT, and a double-header on Sunday July 5th at 6:00 PM MDT the Vipers will take on the Yuma Scorpions.

Finally the road swing concludes against the Orange County Flyers on Monday July 6th, Tuesday July 7th, and Wednesday July 8th with all game starting at 8:05 PM MDT.

Calgary returns home to Foothills Stadium on Friday July 10th at 7:05 PM MDT when they host the Yuma Scorpions for a three-game series including games on Saturday July 11th at 5:05 PM MDT and Sunday July 12th at 1:35 PM MDT. On Friday it will be Mexican Night at the ballpark, on Saturday is Movie Night as Sandlot will be shown on the big screen after the game, and on Sunday it is Bark at the Park and Little League Day where fans can bring their dog to the game and all Little Leaguers get in for free at the Stadium.



Golden Baseball League Stories from June 30, 2009


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