Madrid's shot lifts the Silver Sox

RENO - Bub Madrid got only one hit, but it was huge.

Madrid delivered a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth off Orange County ace Ben Fox to snap a 2-all tie, and the Reno Silver Sox went on to record a 10-4 Golden Baseball victory Friday night at Peccole Park.

Reno, by virtue of its second straight win, improved to 5-4 in the second half, while the Flyers dropped to 4-6.

Reno scored one in the first on a Juan Senreiso homer to left and added one in the fourth when birthday boy Mike Done doubled home Madrid, who had walked.

Orange County scored one in the second on a sacrifice fly by Brett Levier, and added another in the top of the fifth on a two-out single by Peanut Williams off Matt Parris, who worked 6 2/3 innings en route to his fifth win.

That set the stage for the fifth inning when the Silver Sox took control.

Victor Hall singled to right and was safe at second on a fielder's choice. OC shortstop Levier tried to force Senreiso at second, but his throw was late. Both runners moved up on a stolen base.

Fox got Jose Rodriguez on a pop-up to second and fanned Kane Simmons. Up stepped Madrid, who pounded a liner over the fence in left for his fifth homer of the season to give the Sox a 5-2 lead.

"I think I caught him guessing," Madrid said. "He threw a change-up away early, and I thought that was a set-up because he had come inside and had success going right at me. I'm glad I got enough of it to get it over the fence.

"Jams (early) seem to be the scenario in the second half. Some guys struggle and other guys pick them up. We clicked on all cylinders. Parris gave us six strong innings, and offensively Victor got a big hit and I hit the homer. When we're clicking on all cylinders, we're a very good team."

The Flyers kept chipping away, however, adding a run in the sixth and one in the seventh. Parris departed after his 116th pitch with runners at first and second and two outs.

Shawn Balteff walked Marko Okano to load the bases, but retired Johnny Coit on a fly ball to center to end the inning.

Balteff had a 1-2-3 eighth, setting the stage for Reno's final big offensive explosion.

Ezequiel Ruvalcaba, who relieved Fox, walked Madrid to open the eighth. Ryan Kowlaski and Done followed with back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases.

On Done's bunt there appeared to be communication problems, because Ruvalcaba actually jumped over the bunt, thinking Okano would make the play.

Sam Walker lined out to second for the first out. Maurice Cole followed with a comebacker to Ruvalcaba, who made an awkward looking throw to home.

Catcher Jon Marshall leaped high to pull down the throw. Madrid missed the plate originally, but dove back and barely beat the tag.

That play became huge when Hall slammed a ball into the right-centerfield gap, scoring three runs for a 9-4 lead. Hall trotted home moments later on Senreiso's groundball to third.

Jason Martinez, the third Reno pitcher, pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.

One key to the game was Parris' ability to escape serious damage in the first two innings. Orange County loaded the bases in both innings, yet only had one run to show for it.

At one point, he retired 11 of 13 hitters he faced, leading up to Okano's homer in the sixth that cut the lead to 5-3.

"I have to tip my cap to my offense tonight," Parris said. "Five runs off Ben Fox (3-0, 0.67 ERA entering the game) is huge. I can't take a whole lot of credit. I was doing a lot of dipping and ducking. They came out swinging."

Pitching coach Dusty Bergman said that Parris' location wasn't the best which is why Parris walked five batters.

"He had a lot of 2-0 counts and he walked a guy in each of the first three innings. He made big pitches when he needed to. He threw a couple of pitches to Peanut (Williams) that he wished he had back."

Another key was the job the Reno pitchers did on Rich Pohle and Scott Goodman, the Nos. 3 and 5 hitters. They went a combined 1-for-9.

"They are both good hitters," Parris said. "If I give in to them, it will come back and get me."

Bergman agreed.

"Their 3-4-5 hitters have been doing most of the damge," the ex-Carson star said. "If you can get two of them not to do anything, that's going to do it for you. You won't see guys running around the bases."

Notes: The series continues tonight at 7 with Reno's James Johnson (1-3, 4.21) opposing Michael Natale (3-2, 3.44). On Sunday at 5 p.m., Reno newcomer Adam Harendza (0-0, 0.00) opposes Daniel Arizmendi (1-2, 1.93) ... Bergman said that Martinez has been moved to the bullpen where the coaching staff feels he will be more effective ... Madrid had a hand in three of Reno's four rallies with two walks and a homer. He scored three and drove in three.