September 14, 2007

Gary, Indiana—Evan Greusel tossed six and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief and Kyle Nichols broke a 3-3 tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 14^th inning as the Calgary Vipers came from behind to defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 4-3 on Friday night in game three of the Northern League Championship Series. A crowd of 2,783 attended the game at U. S. Steel Yard. The win moved the Vipers to within one victory of the Northern League championship.

For the second time in the three games played so far in the series, the RailCats lost a game in which they took the lead to the ninth inning. Calgary's Darryl Brinkley delivered a one-out single to bring in Jorge Tang from second base to tie the game in the top of the ninth against RailCats closer Tony Cogan while Greusel held the RailCats scoreless until the Vipers finally broke through with a run in the 14^th.

Gary led the game 3-1 after seven innings, getting an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Josh Habel. Habel struck out nine and allowed only two hits over seven innings, giving up only one run, but the RailCats bullpen, which allowed a two-run lead to slip away on Tuesday, collapsed again.

In the 14^th inning, RailCats reliever Steve Edsall walked Nelson Castro to start the frame, and Castro stole second. He went to third on Carlos Duncan's ground out, and one batter later, Nichols delivered a fly ball to right to bring in Castro.

In the bottom of the 14^th, Tanner Townsend led off with a double to left. Nate Price followed with a ground ball to short, and Castro threw to third to get Townsend. Price stole second to put the tying run back in scoring position, but Eric McNamee flied to shallow right and Dave Detienne struck out to end the game.

The RailCats nearly won the game in the 11^th inning when Jose Yepez hit a high deep drive to left that was short by inches of clearing the fence for a game-ending home run. Yepez settled for a double, but pinch runner Brett Wallace was stranded at second when Tanner Townsend struck out and Nate Price popped to third. In the Gary 13^th inning, Eric Blakeley led off with a single to center and went to second on Dale Mueller's sacrifice. But Brett Wallace grounded to second and Jermaine Allensworth grounded to third to end the threat and strand Blakeley at third.

The RailCats scored twice in the second to take an early lead when Nate Price doubled and scored on Eric McNamee's single. McNamee eventually scored on Detienne's single to make it 2-0.

After Calgary scored once on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, the RailCats scored in the bottom of the inning on a Steve Haake double and a triple by Allensworth to make it 3-1.

Calgary pulled to within one run in the eighth when Nichols doubled off RailCats reliever Jim Crowell to bring in Carlos Duncan from first with two outs.

The series continues for game four on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Jason Shelley (7-4, 4.85) will get the start for the RailCats against Calgary's Scott Sarver (2-1, 3.86). For tickets, call (219) 882-2255.

Calgary Vipers 4 (2-1)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

Brinkley, D cf........... 5 0 2 1 2 1 4 0 4

Castro, N ss............. 5 2 1 0 1 1 3 4 2

Duncan, C 3b............. 7 1 0 0 0 2 2 6 2

Colson, J 1b............. 5 0 0 0 2 2 14 1 0

Nichols, K dh............ 5 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2

Miller, D lf............. 6 0 0 0 1 2 4 0 3

Morales, B c............. 4 0 0 0 1 1 11 0 0

Tang, J rf............... 5 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 0

Kuramochi, M 2b.......... 4 0 2 0 2 2 1 4 1

Minami, K p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Schutt, C p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Olson, R p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gruesel, E p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Totals................... 46 4 7 3 10 14 42 17 14

Gary 3 (1-2)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB

------------------------------------------------------

Dave Detienne 1b......... 7 0 1 1 0 4 11 2 1

Jay Pecci ss............. 6 0 2 0 0 0 2 3 0

Eric Blakeley dh......... 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2

Steve Haake rf........... 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Dale Mueller rf......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0

Jose Yepez c............. 5 0 1 0 0 2 13 1 3

Brett Wallace pr/c...... 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

Jermaine Allensworth cf.. 5 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

Tanner Townsend 3b....... 6 0 1 0 0 1 4 3 0

Nate Price lf............ 6 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 3

Eric McNamee 2b.......... 6 1 2 1 0 0 5 3 0

Josh Habel p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

David Byard p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jim Crowell p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tony Cogan p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Matt Brinkmann p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Steve Edsall p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals................... 52 3 12 3 2 10 42 13 10

Score by Innings R H E

--------------------------------------------------

Calgary Vipers...... 000 001 011 000 01 - 4 7 1

Gary................ 020 001 000 000 00 - 3 12 1

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E - Brinkley, D(1); Pecci(1). DP - RailCats 1. LOB - Calgary 14; RailCats

10. 2B - Castro, N(1); Nichols, K(1); Pecci(2); Haake(3); Yepez(3);

Townsend(4); Price(1). 3B - Allensworth(1). HBP - Morales, B. SH - Castro,

N; Tang, J; Mueller. SF - Nichols, K. SB - Castro, N(2); Price(3).

Calgary Vipers IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP

--------------------------------------------------

Minami, K........... 5.1 8 3 2 1 4 23 24 85

Schutt, C........... 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 6 6 24

Olson, R............ 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5

Gruesel, E.......... 6.2 3 0 0 1 5 22 24 84

Gary IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP

--------------------------------------------------

Josh Habel.......... 7.0 2 1 1 5 9 21 28 131

David Byard......... 0.1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 8

Jim Crowell......... 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 3 3 15

Tony Cogan.......... 2.0 3 1 1 0 1 9 9 30

Matt Brinkmann...... 3.0 1 0 0 3 3 9 13 55

Steve Edsall........ 1.0 0 1 1 2 0 2 5 23

Win - Gruesel, E (2-0). Loss - Edsall (0-1). Save - None.

WP - Schutt, C(1); Habel 2(1). HBP - by Habel (Morales, B). Inherited

runners/scored: Schutt, C 1/0; Crowell 1/1. Pitches/strikes: Minami, K 85/61;

Schutt, C 24/15; Olson, R 5/3; Gruesel, E 84/56; Habel 131/78; Byard 8/5;

Crowell 15/11; Cogan 30/21; Brinkmann 55/29; Edsall 23/9.

Umpires - HP: Mike Baker 1B: Harry Fredenburg 2B: Hank Himmanen 3B: Brad

Hungerford Start: 7:00 Time: 4:45 Attendance: 2783

Game notes:

Saturday Probables: Calgary LHP Scott Sarver (2-1, 3.86)

Gary RHP Jason Shelley (7-4, 4.85)

Game: GAR9140

Play-by-Play

The Automated ScoreBook

Calgary Vipers at Gary - Play-by-Play

Sep 14, 2007 at Gary, IN (U S Steel Yard)

Score by Innings R H E

--------------------------------------------------

Calgary Vipers...... 000 001 011 000 01 - 4 7 1

Gary................ 020 001 000 000 00 - 3 12 1

--------------------------------------------------

Calgary Vipers starters: 22/cf Brinkley, D; 4/ss Castro, N; 23/3b Duncan, C;

40/1b Colson, J; 50/dh Nichols, K; 18/lf Miller, D; 34/c Morales, B; 10/rf

Tang, J; 5/2b Kuramochi, M; 13/p Minami, K;

Gary starters: 3/1b Detienne; 12/ss Pecci; 35/dh Blakeley; 9/rf Haake; 25/c

Yepez; 16/cf Allensworth; 24/3b Townsend; 22/lf Price; 18/2b McNamee; 32/p

Habel;

Calgary Vipers 1st - Brinkley, D walked (3-2). Castro, N grounded out to

c, SAC, bunt (0-0); Brinkley, D advanced to second. Duncan, C struck out

looking (0-2). Colson, J walked (3-1). Nichols, K grounded out to 3b (1-1).

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gary 1st - Detienne struck out looking (0-2). Pecci doubled to right

field (0-0). Blakeley grounded out to 3b (0-2). Haake walked (3-2). Yepez

reached on a fielder's choice (0-0); Haake out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 1

hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 2nd - Miller, D grounded out to 3b (2-1). Morales, B hit

by pitch (2-2). Tang, J lined out to 3b (1-2). Kuramochi, M struck out (1-2).

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Gary 2nd - Allensworth struck out (2-2). Townsend flied out to lf (1-2).

Price doubled down the lf line (1-1). McNamee singled to center field, advanced

to second on a throwing error by cf, RBI (0-0); Price scored. Detienne singled

to right field, out at second rf to 1b to ss, RBI (0-0); McNamee scored,

unearned. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 3rd - Brinkley, D singled through the left side (3-1).

Castro, N struck out (1-2). Duncan, C grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b

(1-2); Brinkley, D out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gary 3rd - Pecci grounded out to 2b (1-2). Blakeley singled to left

center (0-2). Haake flied out to cf (2-1). Yepez flied out to lf (0-0). 0

runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 4th - Colson, J struck out (1-2). Nichols, K popped up to

3b (0-1). Miller, D lined out to 1b (3-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0

LOB.

Gary 4th - Allensworth grounded out to 2b (0-2). Townsend grounded out

to 3b (0-0). Price grounded out to 2b (1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0

LOB.

Calgary Vipers 5th - Morales, B struck out (0-2). Tang, J struck out

looking (1-2). Kuramochi, M walked (3-2). Brinkley, D struck out (2-2). 0

runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Gary 5th - McNamee flied out to cf (3-1). Detienne struck out (0-2).

Pecci singled up the middle (0-2). Blakeley popped up to ss (3-2). 0 runs, 1

hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 6th - Castro, N doubled to right center (3-2). Castro, N

advanced to third on a wild pitch. Duncan, C popped up to 2b (2-1). Colson, J

struck out (2-2). Nichols, K walked (3-2). Nichols, K advanced to second on a

wild pitch; Castro, N scored on a wild pitch. Miller, D grounded out to 2b

(3-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Gary 6th - Haake doubled to right center (3-1). Yepez struck out (1-2).

Allensworth tripled down the rf line, RBI (2-2); Haake scored. Schutt, C to p

for Minami, K. Townsend grounded out to ss (2-2). Price struck out (3-2). 1

run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 7th - Morales, B grounded out to 3b (1-2). Tang, J struck

out (1-2). Kuramochi, M walked (3-2). Brinkley, D flied out to cf (1-0). 0

runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Gary 7th - McNamee singled to right field (1-1). Detienne popped up to p

(1-1). Pecci flied out to rf (1-0). McNamee advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Blakeley grounded out to ss (1-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 8th - Byard to p for Habel. Castro, N grounded out to 1b

unassisted (2-2). Duncan, C reached on a throwing error by ss (1-0). Crowell to

p for Byard. Colson, J popped up to 3b (2-2). Nichols, K doubled to right

center, RBI (0-0); Duncan, C scored, unearned. Miller, D struck out (2-2). 1

run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Gary 8th - Olson, R to p for Schutt, C. Haake flied out to cf (2-2).

Gruesel, E to p for Olson, R. Yepez struck out (1-2). Allensworth flied out to

lf (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 9th - Cogan to p for Crowell. Mueller to rf for Haake.

Morales, B grounded out to ss (0-1). Tang, J singled to center field (1-2).

Kuramochi, M singled to right field (0-2); Tang, J advanced to second.

Brinkley, D singled to left field, RBI (3-1); Kuramochi, M advanced to second;

Tang, J scored. Castro, N reached on a fielder's choice (1-2); Brinkley, D out

at second p to ss; Kuramochi, M advanced to third. Duncan, C popped up to 2b

(0-0). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gary 9th - Townsend fouled out to c (1-0). Price flied out to cf (0-1).

McNamee grounded out to 3b (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 10th - Colson, J fouled out to c (1-0). Nichols, K flied

out to lf (1-0). Miller, D struck out looking (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0

errors, 0 LOB.

Gary 10th - Detienne struck out (0-2). Pecci popped up to ss (1-0).

Blakeley grounded out to ss (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 11th - Brinkmann to p for Cogan. Mueller to rf for Haake.

Morales, B walked (3-2). Tang, J out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt (0-1);

Morales, B advanced to second. Kuramochi, M struck out (2-2). Brinkley, D

intentionally walked (3-0). Castro, N reached on a fielder's choice (2-2);

Brinkley, D advanced to second; Morales, B out at third 3b unassisted,

interference. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gary 11th - Mueller struck out (1-2). Yepez doubled to left field (2-2).

Wallace pinch ran for Yepez. Allensworth intentionally walked (3-0). Townsend

struck out (1-2). Price popped up to 3b (1-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2

LOB.

Calgary Vipers 12th - Wallace to c. Duncan, C struck out (2-2). Colson,

J grounded out to 2b (0-1). Nichols, K popped up to 2b (3-1). 0 runs, 0

hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gary 12th - McNamee lined out to 1b (0-0). Detienne grounded out to 3b

(0-2). Pecci flied out to lf (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 13th - Miller, D walked (3-1). Morales, B reached on a

fielder's choice (0-1); Miller, D out at second 1b to ss. Tang, J struck out

(1-2). Kuramochi, M singled (2-2); Morales, B advanced to second. Brinkley, D

flied out to lf (2-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gary 13th - Blakeley singled to center field (1-2). Mueller grounded out

to p, SAC, bunt (0-0); Blakeley advanced to second. Wallace grounded out to 2b

(0-2); Blakeley advanced to third. Allensworth grounded out to 3b (1-0). 0

runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Calgary Vipers 14th - Edsall to p for Brinkmann. Castro, N walked (3-2).

Castro, N stole second. Duncan, C grounded out to ss (2-2); Castro, N advanced

to third. Colson, J intentionally walked (3-0). Nichols, K flied out to rf, SF,

RBI (1-0); Castro, N scored. Miller, D flied out to rf (3-2). 1 run, 0 hits,

0 errors, 1 LOB.

Gary 14th - Townsend doubled to left field (0-0). Price reached on a

fielder's choice (2-0); Townsend out at third ss to 3b. Price stole second.

McNamee popped up to rf (3-2). Detienne struck out (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0

errors, 1 LOB.