Scorpions vs. Flyers - live blog

7:04 p.m. - Welcome to the live Scorpions blog, re-energized by a potential playoff race. Sure Yuma is in fourth place still, but the Scorpions are only four games back with 16 to play. The team they are behind? Orange County, their opponent tonight. Yuma took the first two games of the series, and a sweep would move them to three back. That's certainly a hole they can climb out of. A loss, and it's a five-game hole. There's a huge difference between a three in the GB column and a five. Ronald Ramirez (1-6) is about to throw the first pitch, so we'll keep you posted as the game rolls on.

7:15 p.m. - Ramirez and his 7.08 ERA have struggled early. After striking out the leadoff batter, he gave up a walk and a single before Ben Johnson cleared the bases with a two-run double to deep center. Johnson was signed just before the start of the series and has been the lone bright spot offensively in this series for Orange County. He's now 5-for-9. And Ramirez is throwing a ton of pitches. And now there's two on after another walk, and there's a trip from the pitching coach. So things aren't going as planned so far in what is the first - and possibly the last - must-win game of the year for Yuma.

7:20 p.m. - Ramirez induces shortstop Jimmy Rohan - no relation to Jimmy Rollins - to ground into a double play.

7:27 p.m. - OC scored without the leadoff hitter reaching. Yuma got leadoff hitter Deivis Rivadeneira on base, but a double play erased him and we're going into the second.

7:40 p.m. - Two inning-ending double plays for Yuma, and two leadoff singles for Yuma. Yet the Scorpions trail 2-0 still. We'll see if they can rally - and they'll have to do so staring into a flashing yellow light coming from the clubhouse. And of course, while I'm typing, Reynaldo Rodriguez hits into another 6-4-3 double play. I wonder what's more troubling - the double plays, or the fact the clubhouse may or may not be on fire.

7:48 p.m. - Five half-innings in the book, five double plays. Pretty sure that ties a record, seeings how you can't turn two double plays in an inning. At least, I don't think you can, but that does seem like one of those obscure factoids that only Bob Costas and Jayson Stark know the answer to. The latest double play, turned by Yuma, was quite fancy. Nick Guerra flied out to shallow center, and Diover Avila fired to first to catch David Bacani napping.

7:55 p.m. - Well, there's another double play. Jose Mosquera lined out to OC starter Kevin Altman, and that doubled Carlos Pupo off first. So that tied the record for most double plays for both teams in the first three innings. At least, as far as I can tell.

8:04 p.m. - And there goes the record. Rohan flied out to center with a runner on first and one out. This time Avila, cold not double off the runner. But it was fun while it lasted.

8:18 p.m. - Yuma doesn't hit into a double play and finally scores. Adolfo Gomez singled, then Carlos Arroyo doubles. Carlos Villalobos grounds out to score a run, so it's now 2-1.

8:26 p.m. - OC went down with the first natural 1-2-3 inning as Ramirez has really settled down. There have been five instances of only three batters coming to the plate in an inning, but this was the first one without the aid of a double play. We're at the halfway point, too.

8:39 p.m. - I'm going to say it - Ronald Ramirez pitches some boring games. I don't know how his fielders stay awake. He has four walks and four strikeouts with not a lot of balls going into play. And as I get ready to say he's still pitching well, he gets lifted from the game, and it's a little of a head-scratcher. The pitch count is high, but he's set down eight straight.

8:46 p.m. - The Scorpions don't hit many home runs. But Deivis Rivadeneira hit his second of the year, and it came at a good time. We've got a new game - 2-2 bottom sixth. There was little doubt either as DR gave it a ride to left-center. Over the Time Warner Cable sign for those familiar with the park. And to offset the free plug, I'll add I recently cancelled Time Warner in favor of the dish.

8:56 p.m. - Our old friend, Mr. Double Play, made an appearance for the first time in a while. Rohan hit into another 4-6-3 double play - a great against-the-body throw by Castro made it happen - and we're into the bottom of the seventh.

9:04 p.m. - Nothing like getting clubbed in the leg to make you pitch better. Reynaldo Rodriguez led of the frame with a single that went hard off the thigh of Altman. Rodriguez stole second then went to third on a groundout. But Avila struck out. So that's two outs after he almost left the game. We'll see what Johnatan Lozada can do after Carlos Pupo was walked intentionally.

9:14 p.m. - After an epic at-bat, Lozada walked. So now Rivadeneira will face reliever Armando Carrasco with the bases loaded and two outs.

9:16 p.m. - DR grounded to first, but Robert Fick bobbled the ball and Rivadeneira dove in safely. Not only did Rodriguez score, but Pupo never slowed down from second. So it's 4-2 and runners are on second and third.

9:19 p.m. - Carrasco leaped to stab a high chopper by Adolfo Gomez and threw him out at first, saving a run. But another defensive implosion in the seventh may doom OC again. Let's say it does, because I'm not updating barring a big comeback.

9:21 p.m. - Or a little comeback. No. 8 hitter Jim Goethels homered and it's 4-3.