Back-To-Back Doubles for Visalia Breaks Late Tie in 6-4
July 24, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - The Rawhide (57-42, 11-18), on back-2-back RBI doubles by Joe Munoz and Michael Perez, broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and held on for a 6-4 win in game three of the series over the Stockton Ports (40-59, 13-16) on Saturday night at Rawhide Ballpark.
Tied 4-4 heading to the bottom of the eight, LHP Matt Stalcup (3-1, 7.04) remained in the game for his second inning of relief. Stalcup struck out DH Grant Heyman to begin the inning but the offering went to the backstop and Heyman was able to reach base safely on the wild pitch. 2B Henry Castillo grounded out and Heyman moved to second base before 3B Joe Munoz struck for his RBI double and C Michael Perez followed suit for the 6-4 lead.
Stockton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against RHP Markus Stolback for the third straight game in the second when SS Richie Martin reached on error and moved to second on C Iolana Akau's single. Two batters later, 2B Melvin Mercedes slapped an RBI double to right field wall for the early advantage.
Visalia, in the third, took their first lead of the series when Perez singled to start the frame. LF Zach Nehrir followed with a single and SS Galli Cribbs knocked in Perez with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. CF Victor Reyes followed with an RBI double for the 2-1 lead and RF Stryker Trahan capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Cribbs for the 3-1 lead.
Stockton tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth against Stolbach on four straight hits and an error with RF Seth Brown picking up the RBI on a double and DH Joe Bennie scoring on the error.
Solbach pitched five innings and left in a 3-3 tie after allowing three runs (two earned), a walk and he struck out seven but didn't factor into the decision.
RHP Nick Baker entered and threw two scoreless innings of relief before the Rawhide tacked on a run in the bottom half of the seventh.
RHP James Naile, in his California League debut, pitched six innings and allowed five hits and three runs (all earned) on a walk and he struck out six.
Stalcup entered in the seventh and gave up one infield single and issued three walks to push home the lead run when he gave Trahan the free pass and the Rawhide had a 4-3 lead.
RHP Bud Jeter (8-2, 3.54) came in for the eighth and retired the first two batters but then LF James Harris, who has nine hits in three games against Visalia, singled. Mercedes singled and then CF B.J Boyd reached on an infield single that pushed home Harris for the 4-4 tie before the Rawhide broke the tie for win in the ninth.
RHP Cameron Gann (SV: 2) came in and threw a one, two, three ninth with two strikeouts and gave Jeter the win.
Stalcup pitched two innings and gave up three hits and three runs (earned) on three walks and he struck out three in the loss.
Game four of the series is tomorrow night from Rawhide Ballpark with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch. RHP Brad Keller (7-6, 4.28) will make the start in game four for Visalia against RHP Kyle Friedrichs (3-2, 3.97) for Stockton. Tomorrow night is a Family Fun Sunday presented by Carl's Jr. with Carl's Jr. Kids Club Members running the bases postgame. It's also "Biker Night." $10 ticket packages are available for all Bikers and there will be a pregame lap around the warning track.
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California League Stories from July 24, 2016
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- Rawhide Rally Late, Beat Ports 6-4 - Stockton Ports
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