The Calgary Vipers dropped their third consecutive game with a 14-11 loss to the Kansas City T-Bones in front of the second largest crowd for a Vipers game at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. 4041 fans got to see a combined 25 runs on 31 hits from the league's top two offensive clubs. The T-Bones came up big with two outs in the game, knocking in ten of their runs on five hits in five separate innings.
Geoff McCallum led off the game with his first homerun of the season for the first run of the game.
The Vipers responded right away in the bottom of the inning with Darryl Brinkley being hit by a pitch, and both Drew Miller and Carlos Duncan walking to load the bases. Jason Colson added to his league leading RBI total with a sacrifice fly to move all runners up 90 feet and tie the game. Kyle Nichols followed with a two run single to right field for the 3-1 lead.
Right back came the T-Bones though with three runs of their own. Neb Brown singled and was plated by a Patrick Arlis double. Austin Easley walked and after a groundout to move the runners into scoring position, McCallum delivered a two-strike, two-out single to cash both runners and give Kansas City back the lead at 4-3.
Calgary reclaimed the lead again in the bottom of the inning with walks to Mitch Evans and Manabu Kuramochi. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Brinkley hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Miller followed a RBI groundout to make the score 5-4.
A run was added in the bottom of the third with a leadoff walk to Colson. After a double by Nichols, Colson scored on a RBI groundout from Nelson Castro.
Kansas City tied the game in the top of the fourth with a two out rally. Aharon Eggleston and McCallum both singled and Rob Watson doubled off the left field wall to score both and knot the game at six.
The scoring continued in the bottom of the inning with the Snakes taking their third lead. Evans walked and Brinkley singled for Miller who hit his third homerun of the season for the 9-6 advantage.
Al Benjamin hit a solo homerun to leadoff the fifth inning and cut the lead to 9-7.
Nichols and Castro led off the bottom of the inning with singles and Evans hammered a double to score both runs for a 11-7 game.
The game however became tied in the sixth with a T-Bones four run inning. Easley and McCallum singled followed by a RBI base hit from Watson. With two outs, and after a Mario Delgado infield single, Calvin Pickering took a full count pitch off the center field wall to clear the bases and tie the game at 11.
In the top of the eighth Kansas City took their third lead of the game with a leadoff double by McCallum for his fifth hit of the night. After two outs were recorded, Benjamin came up with another clutch RBI single for the 12-11 lead.
Two insurance runs were added in the top of the ninth by the T-Bones. Easley and Eggleston walked and McCallum reached on a fielder's choice. Once again with two outs, Watson delivered with a two run double for the 14-11 final score.
This three game series continues Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 PM (MDT). Saturday's game is another baseball/football doubleheader. All Stampeders fans who have a ticket to the 5:05 PM (MDT) game against the B.C. Lions can get into Foothills Stadium for free by showing their football ticket at the baseball gate. Also Olympic Women’s Hockey Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Finally on Sunday it is SUNFEST at the ballpark and the first 2000 fans will receive complimentary Sunglasses. Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). The games can also be heard live online at
am770chqr.com.
