FOUR RUN FOURTH DROPS VIPERS
The Calgary Vipers gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and that was the difference in a 6-5 defeat to the Edmonton Cracker-Cats at Telus Field in Edmonton, Alberta. The Snakes had just taken the lead in the top of the inning with two runs and scored two more runs in the next inning to close the lead to one run but did not score in the final two frames to drop their second half record to 1-1. This game was only seven innings in length due to the two teams having to complete last night's suspended game before this one took place.
Edmonton took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a Ruddy Yan single and then a base hit by Carlos Arroyo that went off the glove of shortstop Nelson Castro into shallow centerfield and scoring all the way from first base on the play was Yan for the 1-0 advantage.
The lead was doubled in the bottom of the second with a Chris Van Rossum leadoff walk and after a wild pitch he scored on a Dan Luyben run batted in double.
Travis Drader cut the lead in half for the Snakes in the top of the third inning with his sixth home run of the season.
Calgary took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a two out rally. Drew Miller and Patrick Arlis started with singles and Drader walk to load the bases. Colin Moro followed with a clutch two run single for the 3-2 score.
Right back responded the Cracker-Cats though in the bottom of the inning with four runs and the 6-3 advantage. Van Rossum started the inning with a broken bat single and Orlando Miller hit a come backer to the mound that pitcher Jon Huizinga threw high to second base for an error. Luyben loaded the bases with a single and Geoff Freeborn came in to the game to face Marcus Nettles who knocked in two runs with a single. Nettles later scored the eventual winning run on a Carlos Arroyo RBI base hit.
The Vipers made it a one run game in the top of the fifth inning with a Jorge Mejia double, Carlos Duncan RBI single, Felix Jose single, Nelson Castro sacrifice bunt, and a Miller sacrifice fly. However 6-5 would be as close as Calgary came after not scoring in the final two innings.
Huizinga (1-2) took the loss in his first start of the season while Sean Kramer had an outstanding appearance out of the bullpen throwing the final two and a third innings, giving up no hits, one walk, and picking up one strikeout.
Sunday, July 13th at 1:35 PM (MDT) the three game series concludes with Ryan Schurman (1-3) toeing the rubber.
On Tuesday, July 15th Snakes Manager Mike Busch will lead the 20-man Golden Baseball League All-Star squad as they take on the United League's All-Stars in a battle of two of the top independent leagues in San Angelo, Texas. Joining Busch from the Vipers will be ace and pitching coach Evan Greusel, designated hitter Felix Jose, and outfielders Darryl Brinkley and Drew Miller.
The Snakes return home to Foothills Stadium Friday, July 18th at 7:05 PM (MDT) for "Paint the Park Pink" weekend. Friday's game will open a six day home stand which will feature seven games against the Chico Outlaws and the Yuma Scorpions.
Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). All games can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.
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