Game Recap for 06/26/2009 7:05 PM

LONG BEACH, Calif---Hideki Irabu was solid for six plus and backed by a ten run outburst at the nomrally pitching friendly Blair Field as the Long Beach Armada (12-14) held on to a 10-7 win over the Orange County Flyers (13-14).

Irabu (3-0) struck out seven before leaving in the eighth after allowing a two run homer to Fernando Pacheco.

The Flyers added late inning drama to a game that started as a blowout.

The Armada led 9-0 after a six run fourth but the Flyers made things exciting by bringing the go ahead run to the plate in the ninth.

The Armada put up three runs in the third as Josh Womack singled home Daryl Jones before Omar Bramasco singled home Steve Young. Womack eventually scored on a bases loaded walk.

Womack's 2 run double in the fourth sparked a six run inning and the Armada never looked back, chasing O.C. starter Jesse Smith (3-4).

The Flyers got on the board in the board in the fifth thanks to leadoff hits from Jimmy Rohan and Damian Jackson, who doubled, to put runners on second and third. Nick Guerra bounced a ball to first that was misplayed, scoring Rohan and putting him on first. Jackson then scored on a Robert Fick sacrifice fly.

Long Beach added one more in the fifth on an RBI double by Omar Bramasco. 

But the Flyers made things interesting in the later third of the ball game. With one on and one out in the seventh, Julian Benavidez roped an RBI double down the left field line and advanced to third on an error. Juan Senrieso reached on another Long Beach miscue to score Benavidez. Fernando Pacheco then belted his first homer of the year well over the right center field fence.

While the Armada offense stalled late against the O.C. bullpen, the Flyers loaded the bases in the ninth against Armada closer Ryne Tacker to put the tying run on first. But Justin Segal came on to shut the game down and pick up his first save of the year.

The win was just the Armada's second at Blair field on the year while Orange County is now on a three game skid.

The rivals continue to three game set Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with a fundraiser honoring Jon Wilhite, the CSU Fullerton Titan who survived the car crash that claimed the life of Los Angeles Angel Nick Adenheart, throughout the game.