Scorpions end year on 3-game win streak

There's something out of the ordinary going on at Desert Sun Stadium when sure-handed Henry Calderon makes two errors in a game.

And after A.J. Valentine steals two bases, one without so much as a throw, it's teetering on eerie.

But the topper was when Pete Farina pinch hit for Rich Janeway, a .345 hitter with two RBI doubles in his previous at-bats.

All were telltale signs that the end of the season was just hours away for the Yuma Scorpions and the Reno Silver Sox.

The Scorpions finished the year on a three-game win streak with a 9-3 win Sunday, a sweet close to an disappointing 2008 campaign.

Yuma (23-21) trailed 3-2 in the fourth before back-to-back RBI singles from Dionys Cesar and Calderon gave them the lead. Reno never got back into the game, allowing Yuma to drive in seven runs in the middle three innings.

Hector Bernal had two singles, two RBI and reached base three times in that stretch for the Scorpions. He finished the night 3-for-4 with a double and a run. Yuma's Yosvany Almario also went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI double.

Both team's starters went six innings. Yuma's Evan White (7-4) got the win, overcoming five walks with five hits. Reno's Andrew Alvarado (1-3) gave up nine hits and five earned runs.

Reno (12-32) ends the year with the worst record in the Golden Baseball League.

Yuma tried a new defensive lineup on Sunday, moving everyday first baseman Valentine to the outfield for the second straight night, and replacing him with Ryan Barba. Janeway also switched from center to left field, and Jose Rodriguez made a rare start behind the plate.

Orange County and Long Beach will begin a best-of-five series Tuesday for the chance to represent the South Division in the GBL Championship. They will play the winner of the North Division playoff series between Edmonton and Calgary. Coincidentally, the four division champions ended the regular seasons playing each other.