Silver Sox beat Yuma

RENO - Despite a 4-3 second-half record, the Reno Silver Sox are in a lot of trouble these days.

They haven't replaced heavy hitting third baseman Edgar Varela, whose contract was purchased by the Florida Marlins before the recent Golden Baseball League All-Star game, and it now appears that leadoff hitter and centerfielder Rich Giannotti will miss the rest of the season with what appears to be torn ligaments in his ankle.

"What we need right away is an infielder and outfielder," Reno manager Les Lancaster said after the Silver Sox rallied for three seventh-inning runs en route to a 5-3 win over Yuma Monday night at Peccole Park.

"I've talked to a couple of guys, and they are trying to decide whether they want to play anymore," added Lancaster.

Signing an infielder and outfielder would still leave the team with only Marcus Jensen behind the plate. Lancaster said versatile Bub Madrid will continue to see some time behind the plate depending on who is pitching. Jason Dewey, who was acquired midway through the first half, is no longer a Silver Sox, according to Lancaster.

The Reno win was marred by a situation in the top of the eighth involving Yuma DH Juan Lebron.

Lebron was ejected by field umpire Dave Noble after mouthing off following a groundout. Earlier, Noble called a strike when plate umpire Tyler Ramsey asked for help on a check swing. That is apparently what had Lebron steamed. After teammates escorted him to the dugout, Lebron chucked a bat and helmet onto the field. The bat narrowly missed Ramsey, who did a little hop to get out of the way.

"He wasn't arguing that he was out on the play, he was upset at the check-swing call on that last at-bat," Lancaster said. "That should be major discipline. If not, it makes us look like a joke. It should be a lifetime ban from the GBL."

It should be something big. Earlier this year, a minor league player was suspended for 50 games for throwing a bat at an umpire.

Reno started slow, but managed to score four runs in its last two at-bats, and Lancaster was happy about that.

"We're doing a good job of manufacturing runs with our young guys," said Lancaster, alluding to Reno's three sacrifice fly balls, two by newcomer D.J. Stacey.

The bottom four hitters in the lineup - Madrid, Phil Grau, Stacey and DH Chris Marini - were responsible for six of the team's nine hits, all five runs and three of the four RBI.

The barrage from the bottom of the order was enough for Carlos Chavez to raise his record to 4-1. He has been Reno's most consistent starter this season. Nate Sevier threw a scoreless inning of relief and Scott Schneider registered his 11th save of the season despite giving up a homer in the ninth.

"He (Chavez) did an outstanding job," Lancaster said. "He knows how to pitch. He doesn't overpower people."

"I'm starting to feel like I'm getting my arm strength back," Chavez said. "I can't worry (when we don't hit). I just go out there and try to get us back in the dugout and give us a chance."

Yuma took a 1-0 lead in the second on Jacob Guzman's homer to left off a high fastball by Chavez, who fanned eight and scattered seven hits over seven innings.

Yuma's Chris Langlois blanked Reno through the first four innings, but Reno finally broke through in the fifth when Madrid walked and moved to third on Grau's single to right-centerfield. Madrid scored on a double steal when Guzman's throw went to the left of second base, and shortstop Hector Tena tried to tag out Grau instead of throwing home.

The Scorpions made it 2-1 in the seventh when Lebron singled to left and Andy Wilson lofted a double to right to score LeBron, who barely beat Mike Done's relay throw to the plate.

Then Reno got the break of the game.

Stacey had tied the game at 2 with his first sacrifice fly of the game. Marini followed with what appeared to be a routine one-out fly to center. Javier Lopez lost the ball in the lights, and Marini ended up on third with a triple to score Grau and give Reno a 3-2 lead. A sacrifice fly by C.J. Lang scored Marini to make it 4-2.

"He lost it from the get-go; from the time it went up," Lancaster said. "He didn't see it at all. It definitely was an advantage for us. Anytime a team gives you an extra out, you need to take advantage of it."

Done walked and Langlois was relieved by Anthony Baca, who hit a batter and walked a batter to load the bases before retiring Doug Gredvig on a pop-up.

Reno tacked on another run in the eighth on singles by Madrid and Grau plus another sacrifice fly by Stacey.

Notes: Dewey is expected to return to the Yuma Scorpions who he played for last year. Dewey hit just .164 with the Silver Sox ... Currently, the Silver Sox are playing with just 20 players, two under the league limit... Yuma's traveling party had to endure a 17-hour drive, and the team bus broke down twice.