Report by the Armada’s Marcelo Figueroa
Tucson outlasted Long Beach in the longest game of the year for the Armada. The Toros claimed a 3-2 win in 15 innings and a split of the weekend series Sunday evening at Blair Field. Long Beach is now 2-5 in the second half and 22-23 overall.
Long Beach got on the board first on Sunday night. Matt Edgecombe led off the bottom of the second with a double and moved over to third on a groundout. Jonny Kaplan followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Armada the 1-0 lead.
The Fleet would add to its lead in the third. Catcher David Ramirez was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Steve Young followed with a single. Josh Womack doubled to drive in Ramirez from second and push the lead to 2-0 at the end of three innings.
Tucson was able to manage its first hit and runs of the night in the top of the fourth. Lino Garcia singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with nobody out for the Toros. Dustin Yount followed with a base hit to cut the Long Beach lead to 2-1. Two outs later Mayo Santana tripled to tie the game at 2-2.
The game proved to be a pitcher’s duel as the score stayed 2-2 through ten innings of play. Dustin Gober finished the night with a line of 6 IP, 6 Ks, BB, and 2 runs allowed on four hits. Scott Watson came out of the bullpen and pitched four innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three.
Justin Segal followed this effort with a solid 3.1 innings of his own, striking out two while surrendering just one hit. Heading to the 15th inning the game was still knotted at 2-2.
In the top of the 15th, Tucson would claim its first lead of the ball game. Jim Rushford led off the inning with an infield single before being pulled for pinch runner Lyndon Poole. After a sac bunt followed by a sac fly, Poole reached third base with two outs. Catcher Daryl Parzyk doubled to deep right to drive in Poole, giving the Toros the 3-2 lead at the end of fourteen and a half innings.
Brian Daly then came in for Tucson and recorded a 1-2-3 15th inning to wrap up the night.
Hideki Irabu will take the hill for the Fleet Tuesday night when Long Beach begins a three game series against the St. George Roadrunners. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm.