Visalia Withstands Late Stockton Surge
August 17, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
Visalia (71-51, 25-27) withstood a late surge by the Stockton Ports (50-72, 23-28) to hang on for a 7-6 win in game two of the series and even the four game set at a win apiece on Tuesday night at Recreation Ballpark.
Stockton, trailing 7-4 in the ninth faced RHP Cameron Gann (SV: 6) and with two outs DH John Nogowski singled home both pinch runner Seth Brown and CF James Harris to cut the lead to 7-6. 1B Sandber Pimentel walked and 2B Mikey White hit a game ending fielder's choice and the comeback effort fell one run short for the Ports.
Visalia, against RHP Grant Holmes (9-6, 4.68) scored three times in the bottom of the first on four straight hits and an RBI groundout to jump out to the early lead. LF Cody Regis got it all started with a double before 3B Marty Herum reached on an infield single. 1B Austin Byler drove in Regis with a single followed by DH Trevor Mitsui singling home Herum and finally C Tyler Baker bringing home Byler with an RBI groundout.
The Rawhide scored three more times in the fourth on a Baker double that dropped in right field. RF Robelys Reyes reached on a bunt single to put runners on first and third. SS Galli Cribbs laid down a sacrifice bunt that rolled up the first base line. Holmes, off the mound, picked it up and air-mailed his first baseman Pimentel for a two-base error that brought home Baker from third and allowed Reyes to score all the way from first for a 5-0 lead. Cribbs ended up at third base and scored himself on CF Colin Bray's RBI double for a 6-0 lead.
Holmes lasted five innings and allowed eight hits and six runs (five earned); he walked two and struck out five in the loss.
Visalia starter RHP Joel Payamps (6-3, 4.39) finally allowed Stockton to crack the scoreboard in the fifth inning when SS Richie Martin doubled with one out. C Argenis Raga singled Martin to third and Harris knocked him in with a fielder's choice ball to make it 6-1.
Stockton kept their foot on the gas in the sixth inning, scoring three times and knocking Payamps from the game. LF B.J Boyd singled to leadoff the inning. After back-to-back fly outs, White doubled home Boyd for a 6-2 game and then 3B Jose Brizuela connected for his 13th home run of the season to make it 6-4. After Payamps walked Martin he was pulled from the game, having pitched 5.2 innings. He allowed eight hits, four runs (all earned) on three walks and he struck out three in the win.
RHP Bud Jeter ended the inning and followed with a scoreless seventh inning to keep it 6-4 Visalia.
The Rawhide, against RHP Koby Guana added the eventual game winner when Regis singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Herum singled, Byler lined a ball to deep centerfield that allowed Regis to tag and score, increasing the lead to 7-6.
LHP Gabriel Moya fired a scoreless eighth inning before Gann came in and was able to get through the ninth inning allowing two runs but ultimately shutting the door and holding on for his sixth save of the season in the 7-6 win.
Tomorrow night is game three of the series and Visalia will send RHP Markus Solbach (2-1, 4.74) to the mound against RHP Brett Graves (7-8, 4.60) for Stockton. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Rawhide Ballpark and it's a Win-Win Wednesday and a Reading Day presented by EECU
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California League Stories from August 17, 2016
- Storm Take Second Straight from Sixers - Inland Empire 66ers
- Visalia Withstands Late Stockton Surge - Visalia Rawhide
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