[StLee]

Radscorpions Light Up Jones, Takes 2-0 Series Lead

North Vegas used two big innings early in the game to cruise to an 11-3 victory over Goodsprings and a 2-0 series lead in the Mojave Series.

The Radscorpions pounded Goodsprings starter Jim Jones early in the game to give them all the momentum and runs they needed. In the bottom of the first, Squirrel And and Ernest Emmons got back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third. With George O’Kill up to bat, the Radscorpions attempted a double steal. Dennis Shaft’s throw went awry to score And and move Emmons to third base. With one out, Weldon Brown then hit a sacrifice fly to score Emmons and give North Vegas a 2-0 lead.

That 2-0 lead became a blowout in the second. With two outs, Stephen Sparks walked, followed by a Rich Richmond single. And and Emmons then hit consecutive RBI singles for a 4-0 lead. After O’Kill walked, Brown hit a two-RBI single for a 6-0 advantage. Mario Flores then came on in relief of Jones.

North Vegas tacked on another run in the third, again on a two-out rally. Arthur Glass led off the inning by walking, but he did not advance until Richmond hit a two-out single. And then hit an RBI single to make it 7-0 after three.

The Radscorpions did not achieve offensive success again until the Lucky 38s made another pitching change. This time Wilton Woods fell victim to the Radscorpions’ onslaught. With one out, Brown doubled. With two outs, Woods hit Glass with a pitch. Woods then walked Kirby to load the bases. Sparks walked to score a run, and then Richmond hit his third single of the game to score two and make the score 10-0 after six innings.

North Vegas made it 11-0 in the seventh. With one out, Brown walked and Cole singled. Glass then walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Chris Towns then hit a sacrifice fly to score Brown.

The Lucky 38s finally got on the board in the eighth with Richmond still on the mound. Pinch hitter Tony Smith led off with a double and advanced on a Java Stirfry ground out. Pinch hitter Antonio Gutierrez then hit an RBI single for a 11-1 deficit. With two outs, Stu Vanstone went deep to make the score 11-3, which turned out to be the final.

Despite giving up three runs in the eighth, Richmond was the game’s MVP. He earned the victory by allowing three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in eight innings. He was also 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored.

Jones was the losing pitcher for the Lucky 38s. He allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and a strike out in just one and one-thirds innings. Four other Goodsprings pitchers combined to finish the game.
And was the top offensive producer for the Radscorpions. He was 3 for 4 with two RBI, two runs, two walks, and a strike out.

The two teams now travel to Goodsprings for the next two and possibly three games.