Moore Impressive, Vigilantes Aren’t

In his Vigilante debut, Michael Moore drove in all three of his team’s runs, stole a base, and made a running catch in center, but none of it was enough as the Vigilantes lost the opener of a three-game series to the Tri-City Posse, 6-3, Friday night at Saddleback College.

Moore, who was released from the Seattle Mariners’ organization last week, hit a two-run homer in the second inning on the first pitch to him. That pulled the Vigilantes to within one run at 3-2. Then Moore tied the score in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Brad Gennaro.

“The game is still the same, the environment is a little different,” said Moore, who is the nephew of NBC broadcaster Ahamad Rashad. “I’m glad to be here and glad to be playing ball.”

But Moore’s hot bat was not contagious as the rest of the Vigilantes (8-12) combined for only seven hits.

Mike Smith (1-2) spotted the Posse (10-10) two runs in the first inning when he gave up consecutive singles to Shawn Scott, Sam Taylor, Corey Paul and Kyle Washington. The next batter, Chris Madona, grounded out to short but got an RBI when Paul scored from third.

The Posse regained the lead at 4-3in the fifth, when James Lofton, who led off the inning with a single, scored on Scott’s double that struck the base of the left-center field wall.

Two batters later, Posse Manager Derrel Thomas was ejected by first base umpire Mike Gilmore after Paul was called out on a close play at first.

In the eighth, the Posse added two runs off John Homan when Taylor doubled, scoring Scott, and Paul lined the very next pitch into left field to score Taylor and give the Posse a 6-3 lead.

Notes

The Vigilantes released pitcher Dan Ehler after tests revealed he had bone spurs in his right elbow, and infielder Willie Mosher. The club also announced the retirement of outfielder Randy Curtis.