The Calgary Vipers gave up 20 hits and four home runs in a 14-3 defeat at the hands of the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The top three batters in the Fish lineup all had three hits whereas hitters five through seven all had two a piece. With the win the Goldeyes spilt the first two games of the series and move one game ahead of the Vipers in the second half division standings.
Winnipeg opened the scoring in the top of the first with a Demond Smith solo home run. Brent Metheny followed with a single and then the game was delayed an hour and one minute due to rain. When play resumed Walter Young recorded a base hit, Antoin Gray doubled in a run, and Aaron McEachran capped the inning with a RBI single for the 3-0 lead.
Calgary grabbed a run back in the bottom of the inning with Nelson Castro reaching on a infield single and taking second base on a throwing error by the third baseman Metheny. With two outs Jason Colson walked and Kyle Nichols singled through the left side of the infield to drive Castro home.
Two more runs were added in the second inning by the Goldeyes with a Fehlandt Lentini double and a two out Metheny two run shot for the 5-1 score. It was Metheny's 18th of the season and second in as many games.
In the fourth Winnipeg continued with the crooked numbers putting up a three spot. Lentini tripled, Metheny walked, and Young crushed a three run blast for his 18th bomb of the year and the 8-1 lead.
Mitch Evans smacked a solo home run and his third of the year, first at home, for Calgary's second run of the night.
Right back on the scoreboard were the Goldeyes in the fifth starting on a Luis Alen single, Corey Stang double, and a Max Poulin sacrifice fly. Smith followed by plating his second run of the game with a single to make the score 10-2.
In the bottom of the inning Castro hammered his third home run of the season to cut the lead to 10-3.
Every batter in the Winnipeg lineup had at least a hit after Poulin lifted the team's fourth home run of the game over the left field wall for the 11-3 game.
For the third time in the game the Goldeyes scored three runs in an inning. Smith tripled and Metheny knocked him in with a base hit for the first of the runs. Young and Gray both walked to load the bases and McEachran drove in the second run with a single. The final run of the inning was scored when Alen hit into a double play.
Brandon Kintzler picked up his fifth win of the season going seven innings and giving up only two earned runs and one walk.
This series concludes on Sunday August 19th 1:35 PM (MDT). In the morning the kids who camped out with Cardel Night Under the Stars will have a pancake breakfast, mini-training camp and watch the Vipers game. The Vipers then welcome the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to town for Monday August 20th, Tuesday August 21st, and Wednesday August 22nd games all at 7:05 PM (MDT). Wednesday's game is also mini-baseball key chain giveaway night. Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). The games can be heard live online at
am770chqr.com.
The Vipers are already selling playoff tickets. The Northern League North Division Final opens in Calgary on Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5. And the Vipers are also offering free parking for the Labour Day Classic between the Stampeders and Eskimos for any football fan who buys a Vipers playoff ticket.
