Esposito hit hard late in Yuma loss

CALGARY, Alberta - Another loss to Calgary and Yuma seems snakebitten as the Scorpions took the lead twice before finally succumbing to the Vipers 6-4.

Through the first four innings, Mike Esposito continued an emerging trend of solid starting pitching for the Scorpions, allowing two hits and no runs, and throwing just 30 pitches. But in the fifth the Vipers (32-20) ran off five singles to tie the game at 3-3.

Still the Scorpions (26-24) stuck with Esposito, who rewarded them with two more scoreless innings. They even gained a one-run lead with a solo home run in the seventh by Rich Janeway.

But the run ended in the eighth when Esposito allowed three more runs without recording an out. Esposito completed seven innings, giving up nine hits and five earned runs while striking out three and walking one.

Yuma's early runs came twice in the second when Pete Farina's single brought in Jeremy Cleveland and Hector Bernal crossed the plate during a double play. The Scorpions scored again in the third when a single by Cleveland brought in Valentine.

The Scorpions lost for the 10th time in 12 games against Canada's two Golden Baseball League teams. They wrap up the series today in Calgary and return for the first home game since July 3 against the St. George Roadrunners at 7 p.m., Friday.