July 25th, 2011

BY ALEX ESPINOZA - YUMA SUN STAFF WRITER

With his herky-jerky motion and sidearm sling, Chris Thompson’s Yuma Scorpions debut on Monday was hard to miss. Though he only got four outs, it was good enough to earn the winning decision, as Yuma captured a late-inning 7-6 victory over Maui Na Koa Ikaika at Desert Sun Stadium.

Thompson, who recorded the last out of the eighth inning after Maui knotted up the game 6-6, also closed out the game. It marked his first contest as Yuma’s closer and pitching coach.

But Thompson, formerly of the Lake County Fielders, didn’t make it easy on himself. He allowed a two-out double to put runners at second and third in the ninth inning, but got Jose Sanchez to fly out to end the game.

“To me, he’s probably the best reliever in the league right now,” said Yuma coach Ozzie Canseco. “He’s just been getting the job from day one. I remember when he faced our hitters, he was devastating.”

While they didn’t play games on Saturday or Sunday, the Scorpions had an eventful weekend. Not only did they sign Thompson, but player-manager Jose Canseco did not make it to Monday’s game after straining his back at a celebrity softball appearance in Cleveland.

Ozzie Canseco said his brother is taking medicine for his strained back, but that Jose Canseco should be back for Tuesday’s game. Ex-Major Leaguer Willy Aybar also left the team for personal reasons this weekend, according to Yuma general manager Jose Melendez.

But on Monday, Arnoldo Ponce was Yuma’s savior. Not only did he hit a solo home run in the first inning, but he delivered a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to break a 6-6 tie. Ponce finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Ponce is now batting .331 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 41 games with Yuma.
“He’s just killing the ball,” Ozzie Canseco said. “I’ll tell you what, his bat in our lineup is definitely a great plus. He’s just drove the ball every at-bat.”

Melendez said injured Scorpion Juan Camacho is recovering well from his hand surgery and should return within two weeks time. Before joining the disabled list, Camacho was one of Yuma’s best hitters, batting .376 with four homers and 24 RBIs in 25 games.