Report By Marcelo Figueroa
Yuma starter Javier Ortiz (6-3) had another solid outing against the Armada, going eight innings allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out seven to down the Armada on Saturday night, 3-2. Kris Honel (1-1) received the no-decision in his first start at Blair Field for Long Beach. The Fleet is now 10-14 in the second half and 30-32 overall.
Long Beach struck first in the bottom of the second. With one out Dan Luyben walked followed by a Daryl Jones double to put runners on second and third for Josh Womack. Womack worked the count full before drawing a walk. Ball four from Ortiz was a wild pitch, allowing Luyben to come in to score from third to give the Fleet the 1-0 lead.
Honel recorded the first two outs of the top of the third but then walked the bases loaded. Honel would face another three ball count with Reynaldo Rodriguez at the plate. With a full count and the runners going on the pitch, Honel struck out Rodriguez swinging to end the threat. At the end of three innings the score was Armada 1, Scorpions 0.
In his first start at Blair Field, Honel completed five innings of work, walking five and striking out four, but allowing just two hits and no runs. But it wouldn’t hold as the Armada bullpen couldn’t close the door on the Scorpions.
Zach Beal came in for the top of the sixth in his first appearance as a member of the Armada. He retired the first hitter he faced but then gave up back-to-back-to-back hits, surrendering a run and leaving runners on the corners with one out for Rusty Jones. Jones hit pinch hitter Carlos Pupo to load the bases for designated hitter Jonathan Lozada. Lozada chopped a high bouncer to Napoleon Calzado who mishandled it, allowing every runner to advance safely. Jones then got a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat, but not before Yuma took a 2-1 lead at the end of six innings.
The Scorpions would add another run in the top of the eighth. Replacement catcher Jose Mosquera reached on a two base error. Lozada then singled to third and another error from Calzado allowed Mosquera to cross the plate. At the end of the top of the eighth, the score was Yuma 3, Long Beach 1.
The Fleet fought back in the home half of the eighth. Omar Bramasco hit a leadoff double and moved to third on a Steve Moss groundout. Calzado then tapped a ball softly to third, allowing Bramasco to score and cut the Yuma lead to 3-2 at the end of eight.
The Scorpions brought in their closer Emiliano Fruto to try to secure the win. Andy Bouchie hit the first pitch he saw to dead center but Diover Avila brought it in at the warning track for the first out. He retired the next two hitters to shut the door on Long Beach, giving Yuma the 3-2 win.
Scott Lonergan will take the hill for the Fleet in the rubber match of this three game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05pm.