Carson Blue Jays drop 3-2 thriller

Blue Jays drop

opener in Idaho

MERIDIAN, ID. - Centennial scored the tie-breaking run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to beat Carson 3-2 in the first round of the Idaho Wood Bat Tournament Wednesday night.

Carson returns to action tonight. The Blue Jays play the Pocatello Rebels at 4:30 and the Rocky Mountain Avalanche at 7:30. Both games will be played at Rocky Mountain High School.

"Thy competed," coach Cody Farnworth said. "Sometimes that's the way it is. We put the ball in play. We hit a couple of line drives at people."

The bright spot was Charlie Banfield, who worked the first 6.2 innings before leaving the game after being hit in the ankle with a line drive.

In the seventh, Centennial loaded the bases on two hits and a hit batsman. The last hit was he one that knocked Banfield out of the game. Drew Moreland came on to pitch. The count went full and Moreland walked the hitter to snap the tie. He retired the next hitter.

Carson, which managed just a single by Rory Petersen, went 1-2-3 in the seventh.

Carson took a 1-0 lead in the first when Gehrig Tucker was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball, was moved to third by Brock Pradere and scored on an error.

Centennial took a 2-1 lead, but Carson battled back in the sixth. Nick Domitrovich walked, stole second and third, and scored when the catcher's throw sailed into left field after the second stolen base.

That set the stage for the fateful seventh inning.

Aces stopped by

Tucson Padres

TUCSON, Ariz.- Reno's high-octane offense was limited to just four hits Wednesday night, as the Tucson Padres collected a 6-3 victory in the series finale at Kino Stadium.

Reno jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. Evan Frey singled home the Aces' first run, before Collin Cowgill doubled to put Reno ahead 2-0. Cowgill stole third base, then scampered home with Reno's third run on a throwing error. As it would turn out, though, that was all the Aces would get.

Tony Abreu singled through the hole at second base in the third inning to push his hitting streak to 24 games-a career-high and franchise record. But the Aces were held hitless the rest of the way.

Zach Kroenke (5-1) took the loss for Reno-his first Triple-A defeat since June 26 of last season. Kroenke surrendered six runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings. Out of the Reno bullpen, Jason Urquidez and Esmerling Vasquez combined for 2.1 scoreless frames.

Padres starter Jeremy Hefner (6-5) earned the win, scattering three runs-two earned-on four hits over 6.0 innings of work. Brad Brach collected the save in his Tucson debut.

The Aces now conclude the season's first half with a four-game series at Tacoma. In today's opener, RHP Barry Enright (7-2, 3.99 ERA) gets the nod for Reno, while the Rainiers will counter with RHP Charlie Haeger (2-2, 8.85 ERA). First pitch from Cheney Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m.