The Calgary Vipers squandered a 6-4 lead after six innings, losing 8-6 in ten innings to the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Foothills Stadium in front of 2451 fans. Edmonton scored two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the tenth, both with clutch two out knocks. The loss drops Calgary to 20-15 in the first half but they are still in first place in the North Division.

 

Edmonton was the first team to score when they put up three runs in the third inning. Sambu Ndungidi lead off with a walk, George Sandel singled and both were plated by a Terrence McClain double. Ryan Radmanovich capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to score McClain and make the score 3-0.

 

The Vipers responded right away in the bottom of the third with three of their own to tie the game. Darryl Brinkley singled and Nelson Castro was hit by a pitch for Carlos Duncan who doubled both home. A batter later, Jason Colson drove in his 32nd run with a single.

 

It did not take the Cracker-Cats long to retake the lead as in the fourth Adam Shorsher led off with a double and was scored on a Ndungidi sacrifice fly to make the score 4-3.

 

In the bottom of the sixth the Snakes added another three spot with Aaron McEachran walking and Jorge Tang and Manabu Kuramochi singling to load the bases. Brinkley followed and picked up his 39th and 40th runs batted in on the season with a single to give Calgary the lead 5-4. With two outs Castro delivered a base hit through the right side to score Kuramochi and push the lead to two.

 

The back and forth game continued though, as right away in the seventh Edmonton responded with a clutch two out, bases loaded single by Kyle Nichols to tie the game at six.

 

Right before the bottom of the eighth the game entered a rain delay that lasted an hour and two minutes.

 

When play resumed there was no scoring until the tenth inning when Shorsher lead off with a double. After Shorsher moved to third base on a fly ball, Tim Ryan played him with a two out, two strike double to left field. The insurance run was added a batter later on a Sandel double to give Edmonton a two run lead at 8-6.

Calgary now has Monday off before heading to Winnipeg for the biggest series of the season so far on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all at 6:00 PM (MDT). The games can be heard live online at www.am770chqr.com.The Vipers return home Friday to open a five game home stand against the Kansas City T-Bones. Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255).