LATE COMEBACK GIVES SNAKES SIXTH STRAIGHT

For the second straight night the Calgary Vipers came from behind in a 6-4 victory over the Yuma Scorpions at Foothills Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Down 3-0 early and 4-3 late the Snakes were able to use a three run inning to tie the game in the fifth and another three run frame in the eighth to go ahead for good. Calgary has now won six straight contests and have a 7-2 record in the second half of the season.

In the top of the second inning the Scorpions started the scoring with Jeremy Cleveland getting hit by a pitch, Hector Bernal walking, and Pete Farina delivering a run batted in single. Bernal came around to score to make it 2-0 on a double play hit into by Ryan Barba.

Yuma tacked on a run in the top of the third for a 3-0 lead with a leadoff walk to Rich Janeway and two out base hits from Maikel Jova and Cleveland with the run batted in.

Calgary jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs to tie the game at three. Nelson Castro and Drew Miller started the frame with singles and after a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position, Patrick Arlis knocked in a run with a ground out. Travis Drader followed with a RBI base hit and after a Colin Moro single, Darryl Brinkley tied the game with a RBI single of his own.

Rich Janeway hit a solo homerun off the top of the wall in right field in the top of the seventh to put Yuma back out in front by the score of 4-3.

For the second time in the game the Vipers pushed across three runs in an inning and took their first lead in the bottom of the eighth. Moro started the inning with a walk and Brinkley put the first two runners on with a line drive single. Jorge Mejia followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt that pitcher Mike Esposito bobbled and the bases became loaded on the error. Carlos Duncan tied the game with a RBI single and Felix Jose gave his team the lead knocking in two with a base hit for the 6-4 score.

Reggie Rivard (4-0) picked up the victory thanks to a scoreless eighth inning with one strikeout. P.J. Bevis (2-1-3) recorded his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning along with a strikeout as well. Starter Phil Sobkow was strong and lasted six and two third innings while giving up six hits for the four runs while striking out three. From the fourth to the sixth inning Sobkow was able to retire nine Scorpions in a row.

The Vipers go for the three game series sweep Wednesday July 23rd at 7:05 PM (MDT) with Joe Sergent (2-0) taking the mound.

Tickets can be ordered by calling 277-BALL (2255). The game can be heard live online at www.calgaryvipers.com.