SEVEN RUN SEVENTH SPARKS COMEBACKThe Calgary Vipers trailed by six runs heading into the bottom of the seventh but scored seven times to win 14-13 over the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The game was back and forth throughout with both teams having the lead three separate times. The Vipers have now won four straight and have scored 29 runs on 32 hits in the first two games of this series.
The Cracker-Cats got on the scoreboard in the first inning with walks to George Sandel and Brian Munhall. Sandel stole second and reached third on a throwing error by Kevin Price. Munhall also stole second base and both runners scored on Clint Johnston's two run single.
Another run was added in the top of the second with a leadoff base hit by Kevin House who stole second base. With one out George Sandel hit a deep fly ball to centerfield and the speedy House was able to tag up and score all the way from second on the sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the inning Calgary responded in a big way plating five runs. Jorge Tang and Kevin Price started it by both singling. Manabu Kuramochi picked up an RBI single and Darryl Brinkley clubbed a three run homerun for his tenth of the season to give the Vipers the lead. Drew Miller and Jason Colson hit back to back doubles to bring in the final run of the inning and make the score 5-3.
Right back came Edmonton though in the next half inning with Ryan Radmanovich being hit by a pitch. Johnston followed with a double to score him and was moved to third with a sacrifice bunt from Terrence McClain. The next batter Aaron McEachran tied the game with a sacrifice fly. With two outs Chris Becker singled and House hit a triple to cash him for the go ahead run at 6-5.
Calgary took their second lead in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff walk to Nelson Castro. Tang bunted him up to second base and Price continued to hit very well with runners in scoring position, knocking him home with a single. After a groundout by Shaun Ashman to move Price to second, Kuramochi clutched up with a two out base hit for the 7-6 lead.
Back and forth the game continued in the seventh inning with the Cracker-Cats putting up a seven spot. McEachran hit a solo homerun to tie the game and it was followed by a Teller walk, and House and Rob Recuenco singling to load the bases. Sandel cleared the bases with a triple to give Edmonton their third lead of the game. Munhall doubled him in and was followed by a Johnston walk. Munhall scored on a Terrence McClain single and Tim Ryan, pinch running for Johnston, scored on a Rhett Teller RBI single.
Amazingly the Snakes responded with seven of their own runs in the bottom of the inning. Castro, Tang, and Price all walked and Shaun Ashman brought in two with a base hit. Brinkley, Miller, and Colson all followed with RBI singles to bring Calgary within one. Nichols knocked in the tying run with a groundball that got threw the legs of Recuenco. Castro capped off the inning and gave Calgary the lead with a RBI double to left field.
Brinkley led the way offensively with his three-for-six, two run, four RBI game. Kuramochi went three-for-four with a run scored and two batted in. Miller with his two hits and two walks extended his league high on base streak to 37 games.
Ryan Wyland picked up his first professional save going the final inning and a third facing the minimum four batters.
Paint the Park Pink concludes Sunday at 1:35 PM (MDT). Kazu Minami will go against Mike Johnson. In the game the team will be wearing special pink jerseys and after the game 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.
