GREUSEL OUTSTANDING, OFFENCE EXPLODESThe Calgary Vipers got great pitching and hitting in their 15-2 dropping of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Evan Greusel made the start and gave up on two runs on just five hits while striking out two for his fifth win of the season. Led by a eight run sixth inning the Northern League's team batting average leaders picked up 15 hits for the 15 runs. The Snakes' third consecutive victory moves them to 5-4 on the second half and into second place in the division.
Darryl Brinkley hit his ninth homerun of the year to leadoff the bottom of the first to give Calgary a 1-0 lead.
Edmonton responded right away in the top of the second with back-to-back hits by Terrence McClain and Aaron McEachran. Chris Becker moved McClain to third with a fly ball and Kevin House plated him with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Calgary came right back and reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single from Kyle Nichols. Nelson Castro followed by reaching on a fielder's choice and stole second base. With two outs Kevin Price continued to hit great when runners are in scoring position with a two-strike RBI double. Manabu Kuramochi followed with his third triple of the season to score Price and make the score 3-1.
The Vipers added two more runs in the bottom of the third with a one out single by Carlos Duncan who with two stole second base. It was Nichols this time who clutched up with two away and drove in Duncan. Castro followed by doubling high off the right-centerfield wall to score Nichols all the way from first base after Brian Munhall dropped the ball at home plate for an error.
For the third time the Snakes put together a two run inning in the fifth. Drew Miller walked to start the frame and Jason Colson singled to put two runners on. Nichols picked up his third hit and second RBI with a single. Castro followed with a sacrifice fly to score Colson and push the lead to six at 7-1.
The offence exploded in the sixth inning for eight more runs. Kuramochi, Miller, and Duncan all walked to load the bases. Colson added to his league leading RBI total with a two run single to start the scoring. Nichols followed with a single to load the bases back up for back to back RBI base hits from Castro and Tang. Price walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run and Kuramochi capped off the inning, clearing the bases, with a three run triple to make the score 15-1.
A lone run was scratched across in the top of the eighth with a triple from House and RBI single off Rob Recuenco's bat.
Nichols led the way with a four-for-five, two run and two RBI night. Miller with his two walks extended his on base streak to 36 games while Duncan with a hit and two walks extended his to 32 games.
Paint the Park Pink continues Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 PM (MDT). On Saturday Jeff Groeger will go against Lou Pote. In both games the team will be wearing special pink jerseys and the games will auction them off to raise money for the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation. Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). The games can be heard live online at am770chqr.com.
