The Cobras avenged a loss one week earlier against the Vikings in Raphael Jackson Double-A baseball action Saturday by outslugging them 15-10 in a time-shortened five-inning game at the D.C. Canegata Ballpark.
The Cobras, the new team in the league this year, is a team of very old and very young players that includes some father-son combinations. They have been a pleasant surprise to the league to date and presently sit in third place in the six-team league.
After the Cobras failed to score in the top of the first, the Vikings got off to a fast start, plating five runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by Juan Santana, a wild pitch and three unearned runs to take the early lead.
The Cobras got on the board in a big way in the top of the second inning, exploding for 12 runs against Vikings starter Jun Belardo to take the lead for good. They scored 12 runs on a two-run double by Angel Torres Sr.; a two-run single by Joshua Torres; RBI singles by Enrique Soto, Carmelo Torres, Carlos Nieves and Angel Torres Jr.; a two-run triple by Joshua Torres; and two unearned runs to lead 12-5 after two innings. The Vikings got three in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Paul Clarke and Jahmoy Williams and an unearned run to trail 12-8 after two completed innings.
The Cobras picked up two unearned runs in the top of the third to extend their lead to six at 14-8. The Vikings answered with one run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Clarke to trail 14-9 after three innings.
Another unearned run by the Cobras in the top of the fourth gave them their final run of the game and a 15-9 lead. The Vikings answered with one run in the bottom of the inning on Cantibol Encarnacion’s RBI single for their final run of the game, and they went down 15-10.
Joshua Torres got the win on the hill for the Cobras, while Belardo got the loss for the Vikings. Top batters for the Cobras were Torres Sr., 4 for 4 with four RBIs; Torres Jr., 2 for 2 with one RBI; and Jose Rivera, 2 for 4. For the Vikings, David Clark went 3 for 4 with one RBI, Santana 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Paul Clarke 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
