The Calgary Vipers set a new
franchise record for hits in a game with 21 in their 16-8
victory over the Yuma Scorpions at Foothills Stadium in
Calgary, Alberta. The Vipers also tied a franchise mark with
16 runs in a game and have now scored 30 runs on 40 hits in
the last two nights. With the victory Calgary is 12-11 in
the second half of the season and are two and a half games
back of first place Edmonton.
The Vipers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the
second inning for a 5-0 lead. Felix Jose led off with a
double and Jorge Mejia smacked his eighth homerun of the
season to start the scoring. Travis Drader and Jorge Tang
followed with doubles to score another run, Kevin Price
singled, and Patrick Arlis picked up a run batted in when he
reached on a fielder's choice. Arlis moved to third base on
a Nelson Castro single and scored on a wild pitch to finish
off the scoring in the frame.
Yuma got on the scoreboard in the next half inning
with singles from Toshinari Ire and former Viper Yosvany
Almario to start the inning. Maikel Jova knocked in a run
with a double and Almario scored on a passed ball for the
5-2 score.
Calgary got a run back in the bottom of the third with
Jose and Mejia base hits and a RBI single by Drader for the
6-2 advantage.
In the top of the fourth frame the Scorpions closed
the lead to one run at 6-5 with a Hector Bernal single, Pete
Farina walk, and a two out three run homerun by Almario.
The Snakes added to their lead in the bottom of the
fifth inning with a Darryl Brinkley double, Mejia and Drader
RBI singles, and a Tang RBI double for three runs and a 9-5
lead.
In the next half inning Yuma got a run for the 9-6
score with a Hamzel Diaz walk, Ire single, and Rich Janeway
RBI double. With two runners in scoring position Jeff
Groeger came into the game and got Jova to ground out to end
the inning without further damage against. For Groeger it
was his first appearance for the Vipers since the 2007
season.
Castro got that run back in the bottom of the sixth
with a solo homerun for the 10-6 advantage.
For the second time in the game Calgary scored five
runs in one inning. This time in the seventh Drader walked,
Price reached on a fielder's choice, Arlis singled, and
Castro hit a three run homerun, his second of the game and
11th of the season. Colin Moro followed with a walk,
Brinkley reached on an error, and Dillon O'Krane in his
first professional at-bat knocked in two runs with a double
for the 15-6 lead.
Yuma scored two runs in the top of the eighth frame
with singles from Almario and Henry Calderon, a RBI double
by Janeway, and a RBI groundout from Jova for the 15-8
score.
In the bottom of the inning the Snakes capped the
scoring with doubles by Drader and Arlis for the 16-8
advantage. The Calgarian Drader finished the night by going
four-for-four with three runs scored and two batted in.
Joe Sergent (3-2) picked up the victory tossing five
and two third innings and matching a season high with six
strikeouts. Mike Esposito (5-5) took the loss in giving up
nine runs in five innings pitched.
On Saturday August 9th at 5:05 PM (MDT) Theo 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.
