Report By Marcelo Figueroa
 
Dustin Gober pitched a terrific game to put the Fleet in position to beat the Scorpions 2-1 at “Kids Day” at Blair Field Wednesday afternoon. Long Beach is now 4-8 in the second half and 24-26 overall.

It was a pitcher’s duel at Blair Field during the first five innings of play. Both starters were dominant: Carlos Ladeuth allowed just two hits while striking out six, and Gober gave up five hits while also striking out six. At the end of five the game was scoreless.

But that would change in the sixth inning. Yuma struck first, plating a run on a two-out RBI double from Reynaldo Rodriguez. But Long Beach would answer in the home half of the sixth. Josh Womack led off the inning with a base hit and went all the way to third on a sac bunt from Brandon Howard. Then back-to-back doubles by Jonny Kaplan and Omar Bramasco drove in Womack and Kaplan to give the Fleet the 2-1 lead.

That would prove to be all the Armada would need. Gober went 7.1 IP, striking out nine hitters along the way before Justin Segal came in to finish the eighth inning.

Koichi Misawa came in to close it out for the Armada in the top of the ninth, and retired the Scorpions in order to secure the win.

Hideki Irabu will take the hill for the Fleet Thursday night in the final game of this three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.