The Calgary Vipers fell way behind early and could not complete a massive comeback in losing 13-11 to the Orange County Flyers at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. After only an inning and a half the Vipers trailed 10-0 and despite their best efforts the deficit was too large to overcome. Calgary has now lost the first two games of this series and fall to 15-19 on the second half of the season.

 

Orange County picked up right where they left off the night before in the top of the first inning with a David Bacani single and a Jermy Acey two run shot for the quick lead. Another run was added for the 3-0 advantage with a Patrick Breen walk, Jeff LaRue single, Josh Arhart hit by pitch, and with the bases loaded a run batted in fielder's choice from Fernando Pacheco.

 

More offence was supplied in the top of the second inning as the Flyers plated seven runs to take a double digit lead at 10-0. Gabe Mayorga singled, Mark Okano doubled, Bacani plated a run with a sacrifice fly, Acey reached on an error by third baseman Travis Drader, Breen hit a RBI double, Arhart supplied a RBI single, and Terry Mermer smashed a three run big fly to complete the scoring.

 

The Vipers scratched across a run in the bottom of the third with a Travis Drader double and a Nelson Castro RBI single for the 10-1 score. With the base hit Castro extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

 

Calgary cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs for the 10-5 game. Colin Moro started the inning with a double, Jorge Mejia scored him with a RBI base hit, Jorge Tang singled, Drader reached on a fielder's choice, Patrick Arlis plated a run with a sacrifice fly, Castro doubled, and Demond Smith knocked in two runs with a single to cap off the frame.

 

Another home run was hit in the sixth inning by the Flyers as after a Breen walk, LaRue launched a two run shot for the 12-5 lead.

 

Those two runs were grabbed back in the bottom of the inning with Drader and Smith singles and a Carlos Duncan two run double for the 12-7 score.

 

A run was added to the lead in the top of the eighth as Arhart singled, Pacheco reached on a fielder's choice, and Mermer doubled for a RBI and the 13-7 advantage.

 

In the bottom of the inning the Snakes closed to within two runs with their second four run frame of the game. Arlis singled, Smith walked, Duncan cashed a run with a base hit, Felix Jose scored two with a double, and Moro knocked in another with a extra base hit for the 13-11 score.

 

Joe Sergent (3-3) took the loss in lasting only an inning and a third while Charles Merricks (6-4) picked up the victory in tossing six innings. For the second straight night Andre Simpson (2) earned the save.

 

This series continues Wednesday August 20th and Thursday August 21st with both games starting at 7:05 PM (MDT). Jeff Groeger (0-0) and Phil Sobkow (2-4) will start the two games for the Vipers.

 

Friday August 22nd at 7:05 PM (MDT) the Snakes welcome back the Reno Silver Sox for the three game series. The two teams will also play Saturday August 23rd at 5:05 PM (MDT) and Sunday August 24th at 1:35 PM (MDT).

 

Calgary's final two regular season home games will be Wednesday August 27th and Thursday August 28th at 7:05 PM (MDT) against the Edmonton Cracker-Cats.

 

Friday September 5th at 7:05 PM (MDT) the Vipers will host Game 3 of the North Division Finals. Games 4 & 5 if necessary will also be played at Foothills Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.