Report by the Armada’s Josh Feldman
Ben Fox took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and four Long Beach pitchers combined to allowed one hit as the Armada capitalized in Edmonton for a 3-2 in at Telus Field on Thursday. Long Beach improved to 11-14 and dropped the Capitals to 17-14.
Fox (3-0) earned the win, pitching seven inning, giving up two runs and one hit while striking out six, walking six and hitting a batter.
The Capitals had a chance to steal the win in the bottom of the ninth. Ryne Tacker walked the first two Caps aboard, and a wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third base. With the tying run 90-feet away and the go-ahead run not far behind, Tacker struck out Norm Hutchins for the first out.
Manager Garry Templeton then turned to his bullpen coach, Sean Buller, for the final two outs. Buller struck out Aaron Hornastaj and induced a ground ball from Max Poulin to hold the tying run at third. Buller earned his first save of the season.
Long Beach scored first in the top of the sixth inning. J.J. Sherrill led off with a single and advanced to second base on a single by Casey Garrison. Three batters later, Brandon Howard singled to score Sherrill, giving the Armada a 1-0 lead.
The Capitals responded in the bottom of the frame. Fox walked the lead off man, and Marcus Nettles reached on a fielders choice. Kevin House drew a walk, and a double-steal left runners in scoring position for Darryl Brinkley’s two-run single to break up the no-hitter and give the Caps a 2-1 advantage.
The Fleet bounced back in the top of the eighth, as Sherrill and Garrison once again led off the frame with back-to-back hits. Andy Bouchie sacrificed the runners into scoring position before Matt Edgecombe singled to score Sherrill, tying the game, 2-2. Brandon Howard doubled to score Garrison, giving the Armada the 3-2 lead.
Justin Segal pitched 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Tacker and Buller combined to hold the Capitals in the ninth, preserving the Armada win.
The Armada returns to Blair Field on Friday night as Hideki Irabu makes his fourth start of the season for Long Beach against the Orange County Flyers in the first game of a three game series. First pitch is at 7:05pm.