Blue Jays fall to 0-3 in tourney

RENO - The attitudes were better, but the results didn't change for the Carson Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays lost both of their games at the High Sierra Classic, losing 14-4 to the Sacramento Vipers and 10-3 to the Oakland Rockhounds Friday at Bishop Manogue High School.

"The attitudes were a little better," Carson coach Cody Farnworth said. "Until we get a 100 percent buy-in to what we are trying to do, we'll continue to struggle.

"We ran into a team (in the opener) that could swing it. We left a couple of pitches up and they took advantage."

That would be the Sacramento Vipers, who outhit Carson 12-3 in the opener and rolled to an easy win. The game was called on the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth.

In the opener, the Vipers rolled to a quick 6-1 lead after two innings, raking Drew Moreland for six hits, including two-run homers by Justin Jordan and Carter Moore. Jordan, son of former Major Leaguer Ricky Jordan of the Phillies, also doubled home two runs.

Carson's run in the second came on a bases-loaded bunt by Andrew Hudacko.

The Blue Jays closed to 6-4 in the top of the fourth thanks to two walks, a hit batsman and a three-run double by sophomore-to-be T.J. Thomsen.

The Vipers bounced back with five in the fourth off reliever Jace Zampirro, who walked three batters in the inning. Alex Muzz contributed a two-run single and Andre Gregory contributed a two-run double.

The Vipers ended the game the next inning when Jordan unloaded a three-run homer off Carter Nuckolls. Jordan was a thorn in Carson's side, going 4-for-4 with seven RBIs.

Thomsen was the lone bright spot for the Blue Jays. Besides the double, he threw a runner out at home from center field.

"One of the three things we ask kids to do out here is make adjustments, and TJ did a good job of making adjustments," Farnworth said.

Carson got off to a good start in the second game, scoring once off Oakland's Nick Jasso thanks to a double by Brock Pradere and a run-scoring single by Rory Petersen, who later was thrown out at the plate.

Charlie Banfield, who started Game 2 on the mound, lost the lead in the third when Oakland scored three times on a run-scoring single by Royce Tsukayma and a two-run double by Alejandro Wlasseuvkey.

The score stayed that way until the sixth when Oakland exploded for seven runs on five hits. The winners sent 11 batters to the plate. Tsukayma delivered a clutch two-run single and Jasso helped himself with a two-run double.

Jasso's double came off Carter Nuckolls, who allowed four runners to reach base before getting the final out of the inning.

"I think he just got tired," Farnworth said of Banfield's outing. "He started trying to do too much. He is going to compete out there."

"He pitched well until that inning," said Petersen, Carson's starting catcher. "He left a couple of 0-2 pitches over the heart of the plate. Overall he pitched well."

Carson's final runs of the game came in the sixth when Petersen slammed a two-run homer to left. Petersen drove in all three of Carson's runs and had half of the team's hits in the second game.

"It was a fastball up and in," Petersen said.

NOTES: The Blue Jays have been playing without both Zac Harjes and Nick Domitrovich, who are on vacation. The two absentees have left the Blue Jays short-handed at catcher, pitcher and the infield.