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Win Puts Cardinals into Tie Atop League

June 25, 2009 — The new and improved 2009 Cardinals have moved into a statistical tie atop the Raphael Jackson Double A baseball League with the Vikings after defeating the latter 7-5 Wednesday night at the D.C. Ball Park.
The Cardinals did it the way they have been doing it all season, with pitching, which is what they have over most of the league’s other teams this year. Their ability to fly in pitchers from Puerto Rico for big games have led many to predict that they will be the team to beat this year. However, the win did not come easily, as the Vikings staged a last-inning rally that plated four runs to momentarily put a scare in the Cardinals.
Fernando Diaza, from Puerto Rico, kept the Vikings in check over the first five and a half innings, no-hitting them while giving up just one run and striking out 11 batters. The lone earned run came in the top of the fifth inning. Viking starter Kenny Jackson was equal to the task over the first two innings but in the bottom of the third the Cardinals got to him for two runs on an RBI single by Effrain Ramirez and an RBI ground out by Clyde Gumbs.
After another scoreless inning for the Vikings in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals erupted for four-runs in the bottom of the inning to open up a 6-0 lead. They scored four runs on a two-run double by Ramirez, an RBI single by Norbert Pickering and an error by the Vikings shortstop.
The Vikings finally got on the board against Diaza in the top of the fifth, plating one run on an error by the Cardinal second baseman to trail 6-1. The Cardinals answered with one run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by pinch hitter Miguel Rodriguez to extend the lead back to six at 7-1.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Viking came to bat in the top of the seventh knowing that it would be their last at bat with the allotted game time just about gone. They momentarily put a scare in the Cardinals, erupting for four runs against reliever Nick Carabella to get to within two runs of the lead with two outs in the inning. Felix Motta, however, came on in relief of Carabella to get the final out and quell the uprising.
The Vikings scored their four runs on a two-run double by Cantibol Encarnacion, an RBI single by Zack Prudoff, and an error by the Cardinals shortstop.
Diaza’s strong performance on the hill earned him the victory for the Cardinals, who now share the league top spot with the Vikings. Kenny Jackson got the loss for the Vikings. Top batters for the Cardinals were Ramirez, 4 for 4 with three RBIs; Pickering, 1 for 3 with an RBI; and Enercido Bon, 2 for 2. For the Vikings Prudoff was 1 for 2 with an RBI, Encarnacion 1 for 4 with two RBIs and Juan Santana was 1 for 3.

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