Game Recap for 07/04/2008 7:05 PM

With all the fireworks going off on the fourth of July, the one thing that forgot to go off was the Flyers' offense.

But credit must be given to Eric Van Slyke, the Edmonton Cracker Cats' starting pitcher, who held the Orange County offense in check minus two Flyer home runs as Edmonton (20-18) beat the Flyers (23-11) 13-8 Friday night at Goodwin Field.

Van Slyke (3-3) delivered seven excellent innings, only striking out three, but inducing three key double plays to kill multiple Orange County threats.

On the other hand, the Edmonton offense was very explosive using a four run second to break the game open and added on with a three run sixth and four run ninth.

Every Cracker Cat had a hit and eight of their starting nine scored runs but Carlos Arroyo led the way going 3-6 with three RBI despite being the one Cracker Cat not score.  Marcus Nettles ignited the offense from the leadoff spot, going 3-5, including a leadoff double in the first, with two runs scored.
 
Edmonton wasted no time in their first game against the Flyers, as the leadoff batter Marcus Nettles doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored when Carlos Arroyo grounded a ball up the middle that hit off the second base bag giving Arroyo a double and the Cracker Cats a quick lead.

The Cracker Cats grabbed four runs in the second as Simpson walked the first two batters and then a misplayed ball allowed Ruddy Yan and Carlos Arroyo to single consecutively.

Fernando Pacheco got one back in the bottom of the inning blasting an opposite field homer off of Van Slyke.

But Edmonton got that run back in the fifth when Jiannetti walked and Morban single before Orlando Miller delivered an RBI single.

The Cracker Cats furthered their lead in the sixth after the first two batters reached again,  before Jose Morban hit a solo homer to complete a three run inning for Edmonton.

Patrick Breen cut the lead down a little in the sixth with a mammoth home run over the right field wall.

The Flyers inched a little closer in the eighth as Mark Okano and David Bacani started the inning off with singles to put runners on the corners before Jermy Acey reached on a fielders choice to score Okano. Breen walked and Jeff LaRue reached on an infield single to load the bases with just one out. But the Flyers would leave the bases loaded, missing their best opportunity of the game.

Orange County did not go quiety in the ninth as Travon Jackson singled and later scored on a Buddy Morales double. Okano followed with a single up the middle which allowed Morales to score from second. With Okano on second and Acey on first following a walk, Breen delivered again as he placed a double at the bottom of the wall in right center scoring two runs. But Touchet shut the door and the Cracker Cats run.

The two teams will meet for a double header Saturday at 5 and 7 with Fireworks following after.