Report by the Armada’s Josh Feldman
The Victoria Seals took advantage of Armada miscues to win the expansion franchise’s first home game, topping Long Beach 9-6 at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday afternoon. The Armada finishes the 10-game road trip to Canada at 5-5 while the Seals improve to 2-8.
Armada starting pitcher Jamie Arneson walked eight batters, including three of the first four he faced, in a losing effort. He finished the night with three strikeouts, eight walks, giving up six runs off three hits in four innings pitched. Arneson (0-1) took the mound in the fifth inning, but was replaced with Juan Jimenez after walking the first two batters.
Seals designated hitter Josh Arhart led the offense charge against Long Beach, going 2-for-4 with a homerun and four RBI. Arhart’s RBI single in the first inning put Victoria on the board first. His two-run homerun in the fifth inning provided the winning runs, stretching the Seals lead to 7-2.
Chris Bodishbaugh earned with in in 2.1 innings of work, giving up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts in relief of Victoria starter Travis Wade who lasted 3.2 innings, giving up two runs off three hits with three strikeouts.
The Armada found itself in a 4-0 hole for the second straight night, but unlike Saturday there would be no comeback.
Jonny Kaplan drove in Omar Bramasco in the fourth inning, and catcher David Ramirez recorded his first hit of the season as he drove in Matt Edgecombe later that inning, narrowing the Seals led, 4-2.
Daryl Jones continued his assault on Victoria, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI on a ball to the right field corner that pulled Long Beach within three, 9-6, in the seventh inning. Jones finished the series on the island 6-for-11 with two homeruns, three doubles and six RBI.
The Armada plays its first game in the United States on Friday, June 4 in Yuma, Arizona against the Scorpions. Jose Lima and Hideki Irabu are expected to make starts during the three-game series in the desert.
All Armada games can be heard live through Free Teamline accessible through www.longbeacharmada.com with the broadcast beginning 15 prior to the scheduled time of first pitch.