Game Recap for 07/24/2009 7:05pm PM

SAINT GEORGE, Utah---The Orange County Flyers (7-2 2nd half, 24-22) needed just three runs to back Jesse Smith's gem as the Flyers edged the St. George RoadRunners (5-4 2nd half, 30-19), 3-2 at Bruce Hurst Field.

Smith (6-4) baffled the RoadRunners for eight and a third innings only allowing one earned run while striking out four. But more importantly, Smith induced sixteen groundouts preventing the RoadRunners from benefiting from the hitter friendly conditions in St. George.

The Flyers pushed all three runs across in the second against Luis Gonzalez (5-5) who was nearly as dominant as Smith. In his only hiccup the entire outing, Gonzalez walked Julian Benavidez and allowed a single to Jimmy Rohan to start the second. One out later, Travis Becktel dribbled a ball back to towards the mound on the first base side that Gonzalez fielded but got turned around when spinning to throw to first and pounded the ball into the grass, rolling down the right field line and scoring Benavidez. 

Derek Perren then grounded out to plate Rohan and advance Becktel to third. Becktel scored on a wild pitch, just moments before Jim Goethals singled to cap the scoring.

The RoadRunners grabbed a run in the third on a Ruddy Yan single to score Yosvanny Almario, but the score remained 3-1 until the ninth.

Smith struck out the first batter of the inning before an error and a single plated the second St. George run and chased him from the game.

Bryan Harris came on for the final two outs, striking out pinch hitter Angel Sanchez to seal the victory and pick up his 12th save.

Game two of the three game series will start at 7:05 Mountain time, with Manny Ayala looking to avenge losses suffered at the hands of the RoadRunners in Orange County. All games can be heard at Sportsnetusa.net, called by Tim Slack.