Report by the Armada’s Marcelo Figueroa

In just his second start of the season, Dustin Gober pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out three to help lead the Fleet to a 7-5 victory at Blair Field. The Armada are now 20-18 on the season.

The Fleet didn’t take long to jump on Chico starter Wayne Franklin. With one out Jonny Kaplan tripled to left field for Omar Bramasco. Bramasco then hit a high chopper to third base that allowed the speedy Kaplan to come in to score. At the end of one inning it was the Armada 1, Outlaws 0.

Long Beach was back at it again in the second inning. Napoleon Calzado led things off with a base hit before swiping second for just his second stolen base of the year. Daryl Jones grounded out to second base to move Calzado to third base and then Andy Bouchie hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 2-0 Armada.

The Outlaws were able to get one of those runs back in their half of the third inning. Chico had the first three hitters reach base by way of a single, a walk, and a fielder’s choice in which no out was recorded. Matt DeJesus then hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Jason Crosland from third to make it Long Beach 2, Chico 1.

The third inning was scoreless for both clubs but the Fleet padded their lead in the bottom of the 4th. Andy Bouchie hit a solo shot, his fourth of the year to make it 3-1 Armada. Casey Garrison reached on an error and Steve Young then singled to put runners on the corners with just one out. Young stole second as Womack went down swinging to put runners on second and third with two outs for Kaplan. Kaplan came through with a clutch ground rule double to deep left field to push the lead to 5-1. Bramasco then followed Kaplan’s lead with another double to make it 6-1 at the end of four.

Chico didn’t wait long to strike back. In the top of the 5th Dale Swinford and Rich Janeway hit back-to-back singles to start off the inning. Shane Cronin then flied out to deep right to move both runners up 90 feet into scoring position. Crosland singled to bring both runners in to cut the Armada lead to 6-3.

But Long Beach would respond in the 6th. Bouchie led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a sharp groundout to first from Daryl Jones. Womack then slapped a ball the other way past the shortstop to bring in Bouchie and make it 7-3 Fleet at the end of six innings of play.

Dustin Birosik came in to relieve Gober who finished with a line of 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4BB and 3 Ks. Janeway singled and advanced to second base when Kaplan mishandled the ball in right field. Birosik got the next two hitters to pop out but then Ryan Brown hit a towering opposite-field two-run homerun to bring the Outlaws within two runs at 7-5.

After failing to add to the lead in the bottom of the 7th, Sean Buller came out to pitch the top of the 8th. After getting DeJesus and Ash to both strike out swinging, the next two hitters reached by way of a walk and a bunt single. With the go ahead run at the plate, Buller struck out Janeway to end the threat.

Then closer Justin Segal came in the 9th inning and shut the door on the Outlaws. Long Beach took two of three from Chico in the series and will host Tucson beginning tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.