Scorps lose close one to Vipers

Yuma was unable to overcome a shaky first inning by starting pitcher Julio Santiago.
 
Santiago had trouble throwing strikes in the opening frame and paid for it as the Vipers took a 3-0 lead and held on for a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Desert Sun Stadium.
 
The two teams return for a series-ending doubleheader today, first pitch at 5 p.m.

The Scorpions (10-24), owners of the worst record in the Golden Baseball League, have lost four of five and three straight, while the Vipers (22-13) lead the North Division.
 
Calgary's Drew Miller started the scoring in the first inning with a two-run single to right field that scored Nelson Castro and Jorge Mejia. Rick Guarno followed with a blooper just inside the right-field line that scored Joe Jiannetti.
 
Yuma's burly left-hander walked two and gave up three hits in the first inning. After the first, Santiago (0-3) was solid as he gave up two hits and a double over the next four innings.
 
Evan Greusel (5-1) was more efficient than Santiago over the same stretch, allowing a two-out hit to Carlos Arroyo in the bottom of the third inning and a hit to Carlos Pupo in the fourth.
 
The Vipers turned an inning-ending doubleplay to get out of the fourth.
 
Greusel had two stretches when he and the Vipers' defense sat down six straight Scorpions' batters. He allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. He also struck out five.
 
Yuma threatened to come back against reliever Mac Suzuki as Jose Mosquera's sacrifice fly scored Diover Avila from third to close the gap to 4-3 after seven innings. Avila reached with a single and William Hernandez followed with a single.
 
Suzuki struck out pinch hitter Adolfo Gomez to end the seventh and retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
 
Trailing 3-1, Yuma managed to get to Greusel in the bottom of the sixth as Arroyo singled and Carlos Villalobos followed with a double. Ismael Castro notched his second RBI of the night, scoring Arroyo with a ground out.
 
Ismael Castro delivered a sharp two-out single to left field, scoring Deivis Rivadeneira from third in the first inning. Rivadeneira reached with a solid single.

Santiago was pulled after five innings. He struck out two, walked two and allowed three runs on eight hits.
 
Reliever Wilton Noel sent Calgary down in order in the top of the sixth inning but was touched for a double by Fehlandt Lentini in the seventh. Lentini scored on a hard hit ball by Nelson Castro to give the Vipers a 4-2 lead.
 
Villalobos and closer Emiliano Fruto were named to the South Division All-Star Team and will play the North All-Stars on July 14 in St. George.
 
Villalobos has been the Scorpions most consistent offensive threat, leading the team in nearly every category including runs (20), hits (41), home runs (6), doubles (9) and RBI (18). He second on the team with a .328 batting average.
 
Fruto, 23, signed with the Scorpions two weeks into the season and assumed the closing duties. He leads Yuma with eight saves and is second on the team with 27 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.