The New York Times Institute

Cepicky Lifts Zephyrs to 7-6 Victory

METAIRIE- A two-out walk-off three-run home run by outfielder Matt Cepicky propelled the New Orleans Zephyrs to a 7-6 over the Salt Lake Stingers Monday night in the first of a four-game series.

"I knew it had a chance, but this park plays funny sometimes," Cepicky said. "I saw it go up and it must have went over because they were playing it off like it didn't go out. So it must have been close."

The home run was Cepicky's first since May 3.

With a 4-3 lead going into the ninth, Zephyrs relief pitcher Travis Hughes (2-2) gave up a triple and a two-run home run to the seventh and eighth batters, Nick Gorneault and Adam Pavkovich. Until then, the sixth through ninth batters for the Stingers were hitless in 12 at-bats.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Sunny Kim showed signs of early dominance with a lead-off three-pitch strikeout over Zach Sorensen. But his fourth pitch, to Stinger David Matranga, sailed over the fence, giving Salt Lake (23-19) a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Matranga, a former Zephyr, who had played 101 homer-less games for New Orleans, took 304 at-bats before hitting his first home run of the season for the Stingers.

Kim threw 101 pitches, giving up five hits and striking out four in seven innings.

Kim “was real sharp at the end, and he actually could have pitched another inning," said manager Tim Foli. "He's been solid all year and he's given us a chance to win every ballgame he's pitched."

In the second inning the Zephyrs, who began the game with 32 errors, committed two more, allowing Stingers infielder Pavkovich to knock in his sixth RBI for a 2-0 Stingers lead.

The Zephyrs (21-23) got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when outfielder Tyrell Godwin grounded into a double play with runners on first and third base, bringing Jason Bowers home from third. An RBI by Melvin Nieves tied the game at 2-2.

Stingers catcher Jeff Mathis crushed his seventh home run of the year clear over the 400-foot centerfield wall in the top of the fourth, but the Zephyrs scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 4-3 lead.

Zephyrs outfielder Brandon Watson has hit in seven straight games while second baseman Rick Short tied the Zephyrs season-high hitting streak with eight games. The team had a total of 15 hits.

"I was looking up there and we had 14 hits and four runs, and that's not always that good," Foli said. "But we got the big one when we needed it, and that's great."

The Zephyrs look to extend their two-game winning streak Tuesday against the Salt Lake Stingers.

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