The Calgary
Vipers used 19 hits to defeat the Long Beach Armada 14-7 at
Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The victory broke up
a six game losing streak for the Snakes and improved their
second half record to 11-11. Drew Miller snapped his ironman
streak tonight after starting 329 consecutive games for the
Snakes. It was only the third game in Viper's franchise
history that Miller has missed.
In the top of the first inning Long Beach got on the
scoreboard as Julian Williams tripled and scored on a Norm
Hutchins sacrifice fly for the 1-0 advantage.
Calgary responded right away in the bottom of the
inning with a Colin Moro single, Carlos Duncan walk, a
passed ball to move the runners into scoring position, and a
Felix Jose two run single. After Jose stole second base he
scored on a Jorge Mejia run batted in triple for the 3-1
lead.
Four more runs were added in the bottom of the second
frame by the Snakes when Kevin Price led off with a bunt
single, Moro singled, Duncan drove in a run with a base hit,
and Jose hit his 14th homerun of the season, a three run
shot, for the 7-1 advantage.
Long Beach got back to back singles from Michael Glomb
and Julian Williams to leadoff the top of the third inning.
A Steve Moss fly ball advanced Glomb to third base where he
scored on another Hutchins sacrifice fly. Williams stole
second base, advanced to third on a throwing error by
catcher Patrick Arlis, and scored on a Ryan Lehr RBI single
for the 7-3 score.
Another run was added an inning later by the Armada as
Octavio Martinez and Dan Trumble singled, the runners moved
into scoring position when David Ramirez was robbed by first
baseman Carlos Duncan as he dove to catch a ground ball and
tagged first base, and Martinez scored on a Glomb RBI
groundout to cut the lead to three at 7-4.
The Vipers got a run back in the top of the fifth with
a Jorge Tang single, walks to Price and Arlis, and a RBI
groundout from Nelson Castro for the 8-4 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning Long Beach's Williams
singled, Hutchins walked, Lehr scored Williams with a base
hit, Brett Flowers was hit by a pitch, and Martinez knocked
in two with a single to bring his team within one run. With
the bases loaded and Jon Huizinga on the mound David Ramirez
hit a groundball to first that Duncan threw home but the
throw hit Ramirez in fair territory so he was out on
batter's interference and the bases remained loaded.
Huizinga then got Glomb to groundout to end the inning with
the Vipers still ahead 8-7.
Calgary carried that momentum into the bottom of the
inning as Tang and Price singled and Arlis reached on a
fielder's choice. Castro followed with a groundball that the
Armada tried to turn a double play on but a great slide at
second by Arlis broke it up and Glomb's throw went wild to
first allowing Price to score and Castro to take second.
Moro made the score 10-7 with a base hit to score Castro.
More insurance was added in the bottom of the eighth
as Jose singled and was removed from the game for pinch
runner Shaun Ashman who made his return to the team tonight.
Travis Drader followed and reached on an error by second
baseman Williams, Mejia singled to load the bases, and both
Tang and Price knocked in a pair of runs with base knocks
for the 14-7 advantage.
Moro, Jose, and Price all had huge nights at the plate
with four hits each. Moro was four-for-five with two runs
scored, Jose went four-for-five with two runs scored and
five batted in, and Price went four-for-four with two runs
scored and knocked in.
Nate Melek (5-4) picked up the victory going six and a
third innings while not walking a batter and giving up four
earned runs. Huizinga (3) picked up the save in getting out
of the tough jam in the seventh inning and recording the
final eight outs of the game in facing only nine batters.
Friday August 8th at 7:05 PM (MDT) it is Foam Finger
Giveaway night at the ballpark as Calgary takes on the Yuma
Scorpions with Joe Sergent (2-2) starting. Also on Friday
former Calgary Flame Mike Commodore will throw out the first
pitch and sign autographs. Theo Fleury will also be on hand
before the game at 4:00 PM (MDT) to once again take batting
practice. On Saturday August 9th at 5:05 PM (MDT) Fleury
will make his professional baseball debut as Calgary and
Yuma play a double-header. Fleury will wear his regular
#14 uniform thanks to a deal worked out with Calgary's Jorge
Mejia. Through Mejia's agent, team-mate Nelson Castro, the
three were able to make an arrangement for two steak dinners
in exchange for the jersey. The Vipers will throw Dallas
Mahan (3-2) and Phil Sobkow (1-3). Sunday August 10th at
1:35 PM (MDT) the four game series and home stand concludes
with Evan Greusel (7-2) taking the mound. Also on Sunday
Calgarian and Washington Capital Mike Green will throw out
the first pitch and sign autographs.
Tickets can
be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). All games can be
heard live online at
www.calgaryvipers.com.
