For the second consecutive game the Calgary Vipers scored double digit runs in their 10-5 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The 14 hits on the night give the Snakes 33 hits in their last two games and the number ten was also significant for Calgary starter Evan Greusel who went seven innings, walking only one and striking out a season high ten batters.
Darryl Brinkley did not waste any time extending his hitting streak to 22 games with a leadoff double in the first. Nelson Castro moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt and Carlos Duncan plated the game's first run with a RBI groundout.
The RedHawks tied the game in the second when Greusel, with two outs, uncorked a wild pitch to allowed Clint Johnston to score from third base.
However Calgary grabbed the lead back in a big way in the third inning. With one out Brinkley and Castro singled and along with a Duncan walk the bases were loaded. Jason Colson gained a hard earned RBI being hit by a pitch and then Mitch Evans made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly. After another hit by pitch to Drew Miller, his second of the game in as many innings, Kevin Price cleared the bases with a three run double to give the Vipers a 6-1 lead.
In the fourth with two outs designated hitter Ruben Salazar hit a solo homerun but Calgary came right back in the bottom of the inning when Castro doubled home Manabu Kuramochi and Duncan singled in Kuramochi to make it 8-2.
Single runs were added by Fargo-Moorhead in the fifth on, again, a two out solo homerun by Kory Wayment and in the sixth on a Salazar RBI single to score Richard Austin.
Those two runs were matched by the Snakes in the seventh when Jorge Tang extended his hitting streak to ten games with a RBI double to score Miller and Kuramochi brought in Miller to make it 10-4.
In the ninth the RedHawks closed the scoring with a two out RBI single by Tydus Meadows to score Wayment.
Castro had a great night going three-for-three with two runs scored and a RBI.
The Vipers are now alone in second place, one game back of Winnipeg, and continue the series with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Wednesday during the day at 12:35 PM (MDT), and Thursday at 7:05 PM (MDT). Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling 277-BALL (2255). All games can be heard live online at
www.am770chqr.com.
