RENO - James Shanks said things are starting to come together for him at the plate. That's good news for the Reno Silver Sox and bad news for the rest of the Golden Baseball League.
Shanks, who was released by a Triple-A team approximately a month ago, entered the game with a .237 average, but raised it 28 points thanks to a 3-for-5 night in Reno's 10-8 win over Yuma Thursday night before an announced crowd of 1,028 at Peccole Park.
Reno, 6-4 in the second half, goes on an 11-day, nine-game road trip to Fullerton and San Diego.
Reno manager Les Lancaster wasn't wild about the way his team gave up five runs in the ninth, but he was happy to see Shanks get untracked.
"That was pretty ugly," Lancaster said. "Anything that could happen did happen.
"The last couple of days he's been swinging the bat well. He's been working with Rafael Melchione (hitting coach) and working out some things."
Shanks hit a three-run homer in the third, as the Silver Sox took the lead for good, 4-2.
"Since I got here, I've been working on a couple of things," Shanks said. "We've been working on staying back and trying to drive the ball; looking for a pitch I can drive and use my power.
"When I first got here, my timing was off and I hadn't played in a couple of days. I've been here for 20 or so games now, and I'm starting to feel pretty good."
Yuma sliced the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fifth against starter/winner Jared Bonnell, 3-1.
With two outs, Henry Calderon was nicked by a pitch, stole second and scored when Mike Done threw wildly to first on a routine groundball. Reno struck for two runs in the sixth for a 6-3 lead thanks to a two-out, two-run single by Steve Booker, who was obtained from Chico to complete the deal for Hideki Nagasaka.
Booker had a successful debut, going 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in two runs.
"I was kind of surprised (to be traded)," Booker said. "I'd heard something might go down about a week and a half ago, and that my name was being mentioned. It's a good thing. Hopefully I'll play everyday. At Chico, I was playing once every three days."
"It was a good start," Lancaster said. "It's what we felt he could give us. He's a good leadoff hitter and can run. He plays good defense out there. I was pleased to get him in the trade."
Reno extended the lead to 10-3 with three in the seventh and one in the eighth.
Doug Gredvig delivered a key two-run single to highlight the seventh inning, scoring Marcus Jensen and Shanks, who had doubled. In the eighth, Shanks hit into a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded to score Booker.
That set the stage for the wild ninth inning, which even saw the home fans get on their team for some sloppy play, which included two errors, three wild pitches by Nat Harris and a couple of passed balls by reserve catcher Bub Madrid leading to five runs.
Lancaster brought in Schneider to finish the game, and with two outs, he moved Madrid to first and brought in Jensen to catch. Schneider struck out Billy Kovatch looking to end the game.
Madrid has been bothered by a tender leg, and Lancaster knew that.
"It's tough," he said. "He's done a nice job back there for us. I know he's a little tender behind the knee. He's done everything we've asked of him. I didn't like taking him out (in the middle of the inning). Unfortunately, that's part of the game."
Notes: Booker and shortstop Brandon Carter, both of whom were playing their first game with Reno, were the victims of a little different welcome from their teammates. Booker and Carter happened to be batting 1-2 in the order. None of the other Silver Sox players went on the field as their names were called, leaving Booker and Carter alone at their positions. Booker was laughing about it after the game ... Lancaster said that he had agreed to terms with a Triple-A third baseman whose name he wouldn't divulge, but that the player was a no-show for the game. Lancaster also said that he is still looking to upgrade the team in the outfield... The six innings was Bonnell's longest stint of the season. He allowed one earned run and four hits. He struck out four and walked one.