Report By Josh Feldman Of The Armada
The Armada once again got ahead early, but the Vipers came from behind for the second game in a row, sinking the Armada, 14-8, on Sunday. Long Beach drops to 1-3 on the 2009 season.
Chad Miller, who hit a 3-run homerun in each of the last two games, got on base with a lead-off double in the 2nd inning. After a single by designated hitter Daryl Jones, Vipers pitcher Hideki Nagasaka walked the next to batters to score Miller. Catcher Andy Bouchie followed that with a 2-RBI single to give Long Beach an early 3-0 lead. An RBI-double from first baseman Matt Edgecombe scored Jones in the 3rd to stretch the Armada lead to 4-0.
Making his first start of the season, Keith Ramsey (0-1) took the loss, lasting 3.2 innings, giving up 8 earned run on 10 hits. He struck out two hitters and did not surrender a walk, but gave up two homeruns – a solo shot to Terry Mermer and a 2-run homerun to Fehlandt Lentini – in the 3rd inning as the Vipers came back to tie the game in that frame, 4-4.
Left fielder Casey Garrison added a solo homerun (1) in the top of the 4th to give the Armada the lead, 5-4.
Vipers starter Hideki Nagasaka (1-0) pitched 5 innings to earn his first win of the season. He allowed 5 runs off 6 hits and walked 5 batters while striking out 3. Calgary relievers Alan Webb gave up a run in the 6th and two more in the 7th as Long Beach attempted to come back, but Calgary closed the door with a 3-run 7th inning off reliever Koichi Misawa. Misawa pitched the final two innings for the Armada. Relievers Juan Jimenez and Justin Segal combined for 2.1 innings of relief work.
The Armada and Vipers do not play again in the 2009 regular season. Long Beach is now 12-7 all-time against Calgary.
The Armada now travels to Edmonton, kicking off a three-game series against the Capitals at Telus Field beginning on Monday, May 25 at 6:00pm (7:00pm in Edmonton). RHP Jamie Arneson will get the start for the Armada. RHP Jose Lima and LHP Ben Fox are scheduled to start the other two starts of the series. The game broadcast can be heard live through www.longbeacharmada.com with the pre-game show starting at 5:45pm.