RENO - The numbers that Reno right-hander Matt Parris has put up haven't been impressive - a 1-4 record, a 4.91 ERA and 29 hits allowed in 22 innings.
Parris turned things around with a five-hit effort over seven innings, and the Silver Sox held off a late rally by Yuma to grab a 4-3 win in a Golden Baseball League game Saturday night at Peccole Park before an announced crowd of 2,297.
"Tonight was the best game he's had as a starter," said Reno manager Les Lancaster, whose team improved to 8-13. "He mixed his pitches up and stayed ahead in the count. In tough situations, he made them chase his pitch. That's what we've been stressing - don't give into the hitters."
Parris, who fanned six and walked four, was pleased he was able to get his second win of the season.
"I'd say this and the St. George game (are the best)," Parris said. "I was able to get my breaking ball over for strikes. I was throwing better pitches at better times.
"Against Long Beach, I got ahead of hitters and left pitches up. I still left a few pitches up tonight. I was hitting my spots better and I had great defense."
The Silver Sox made three errors, but Parris was able to make great pitches in clutch situations.
Shortstop Chuck Sindlinger made a nice inning-ending play in the third, and second baseman Mike Done robbed Maikel Jova of a hit in the seventh with diving stop of a hard-hit groundball.
"The seventh, eighth and ninth innings have been when we are killing ourselves," said ex-Nevada star Bub Madrid. "We have to cut down on crucial errors, and then start cutting down on errors period."
After opening the series with a disappointing loss on Friday, Reno grabbed an early lead and held it.
Reno got to Yuma starter Marco Solis for two runs and three hits in the first.
Victor Hall was hit, stole second and moved to third on Sindlinger's infield hit. After Juan Senreiso struck out, Jose Rodriguez singled home Hall. Madrid followed with a single up the middle, scoring Sindlinger.
Madrid said the quick start was key, given how the Silver Sox lost Friday's game in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Silver Sox made it 3-0 in the fourth, rallying after Solis retired the first two hitters.
Done was plunked with a pitch and then stole second. Recently acquired Kane Simmons drove Done in with a drive to center off the bottom of the fence.
Parris, who blanked the Scorpions through the first four innings, was nicked for a run in the fifth.
After one out, Mike Goss reached on a walk. Hector Bernal followed with a groundball near the bag at first. Rodriguez tagged the bag at first, but threw wildly past second base. Henry Calderon followed with a a run-scoring single to left.
Yuma threatened in the sixth, putting runners on first and third after singles by Pascual Matos and Nik Crouch plus an error by right fielder Juan Senreiso. Parris fanned Gabe Mayorga for the second time and retired Jordan Prado on a weak groundball to third.
Reno added a run in the sixth when Cody Nowlin drove one into the gap in right-centerfield. Jova took a bad route to the ball and it got by him, allowing Nowlin to reach third without a throw. Done followed with a long run-scoring double to right for a 4-1 lead.
And, Done, a player-coach, took some good-natured ribbing from his manager after getting his arm iced following the game.
"If I'd known he could do that (after getting hit), I would have hit him," Lancaster said.
Yuma closed to 4-2 in the seventh, Parris' last inning, on a sacrifice fly by Calderon.
Mike Peck, who has struggled mightily this season with an 0-2 record and 19.06 ERA over five games, pitched a flawless eighth.
"We have to get him back on track," Lancaster said. "St. George kind of had their way with him. We'll get him out there one inning at a time."
Lancaster called on Adam Nikolic to finish up, and the Scorpions made it interesting.
Mayorga walked and then went to second when Nikolic was called for a balk by field umpire Tyler Ramsey. Mayorga moved to third on Prado's infield single and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Tank Peterson.
Nikolic stranded Prado at first by retiring Bernal on an easy flyball to left and the dangerous Calderon on a comebacker to record his second save of the season.
Notes: The teams wrap up the three-game series tonight at 5 with James Johnson, former McQueen star, opposing Steve Soja. Johnson is 0-1 with a 3.20 ERA, while Soja is 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA ... The Chico Outlaws begin a two-game series Monday night ... Bernal had his nine-game hit streak snapped by going 0-for-5, but Crouch extended his to nine straight. Calderon extended his hit streak to eight games... Done, who has struggled mightily at the plate, raised his average from .194 to 200 with his 2-for-3 effort.