VIPERS HAND GOLDEYES 4-1 LOSS

The Calgary Vipers scored four runs over the first two innings and that was all the offence they would need as starter Clint Hosford pitched a complete game to lead the Vipers to a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Saturday afternoon at Foothillls Stadium.

Hosford’s only blemish on the scoreboard came in the ninth inning when Will Smith hit a solo homerun for the Goldeyes to put an end to the shutout bid. Hosford (5-5) scattered 11 hits throughout the game without walking a batter while picking up 6 strikeouts.

Ben Moore (7-6) took the loss for Winnipeg after surrendering four runs on seven hits in six innings of work.

Darryl Brinkley led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and came in to score when Nelson Castro followed up with a two-bagger of his own. Castro also scored in the inning after stealing third and coming home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

The Vipers kept things going in the bottom of the second inning when Drew Miller walked and Shaun Ashman reached on an error to put runners on first and second before Brinkley made it 3-0 with an RBI single.

Calgary then moved ahead 4-0 when Castro picked up his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that brought Ashman in from third base.

The Goldeyes threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning, picking up three singles to load the bases with two-outs. Hosford though, was able to escape the jam by getting Matt Mann to fly out to center field to end the inning.

Hosford was then able to preserve the win by allowing just seven hits over the final five innings of the game.

Winnipeg ruined the shutout bid in the ninth when Smith hit his third homerun of the season to lead off the inning and make it 4-1. The Goldeyes then put runners on first and third with one out but couldn’t capitalize as the Vipers completed a double-play to end the game.

Calgary (23-24) will now finish off their 2006 Northern League season with an afternoon tilt against the Goldeyes (24-23) on Sunday at Foothills Stadium. Calgary will be looking to finish off the second half with a .500 record.