The Cobras scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday — highlighted by a two-out, game-winning RBI single by Jose Rivera Sr. — to beat the defending-champion Vikings 9-8 in a Raphael Jackson Double A Baseball League game at the D.C. Canegata Ballpark.
The Cobras came into the inning trailing 8-3, but capitalized on three Vikings errors to pull out the victory.
Batting first, the Vikings got on the board in the top of the first inning with three runs on a two-run single off the bat of Cantibol Encarnacion, as well as an unearned run, to take the early lead. The Cobras came up empty inn the bottom of the inning.
After the Vikings failed to score in the top of the second inning, the Cobras got on the board in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Joshua Torres to trail 3-1 after two innings.
The Cobras picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the third after the Vikings failed to score again to get to within one of the lead at 3-2.
The score would stay that way until the top of the fifth, when the Vikings picked up an unearned run to extend their lead to 4-2.
The score would be 4-3 at the end of six innings after the Cobras plated a run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Torres to again trail by one.
The Vikings opened a five-run lead at 8-3 in the top of the seventh and final inning, due to time constraints, to seemingly put the game out of reach. They scored five runs on a two-run single by Arthur Canaii, an RBI ground out by Juan Santana, and a Cobra error. The Cobras, however, were not done yet, and to the delight of the most boisterous fans in the AA league they started their comeback. The Cobras managed to tie the game at eight on three Vikings errors and a lone RBI single by Torres. The stage was set for Rivera’s heroics. The bases were loaded when he stepped to the plate, and there were two outs. It was a pressure situation, but it did not seem to bother the veteran slugger, as he calmly delivered the game winner — to the dismay of the Vikings and their fans.
Michael Flemming got the win on the hill for the Cobras, while Kenny Jackson got the loss for the Vikings. Top hitters for the Cobras were Joshua Torres, 2 for 3 with three RBIs; Rivera, 2 for 5 with an RBI; and Angel Torres Jr., 3 for 4. For the Vikings, Tony Cruz and Canaii both went 2 for 3, while Collin Williams went 1 for 1.
Cardinal 3, Yankees 2
In game two on Sunday, the Yankees outhit the Cardinals six to two, but came up on the short end of the stick as they allowed three unearned runs on five errors to hurt a fine pitching performance by the starter, Eric Perez. He struck out five and scattered just three hits but no runs in support, and the five errors proved too much to overcome. Luis Garcia got the win for the Cardinals.
It was the Cardinals with three runs on three hits and one error while the Yankees finished with two runs on six hits and committed five errors. Top batters for the Cardinals were Clyde Gumbs and Kareem Dennis, both 1 for 1. For the Yankees, Steve Simmonds went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Perez went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
