Castillo Gives Visalia the Win with Home Run in the Ninth
Published on April 23, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - Henry Castillo connected for a solo, go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night as Visalia (10-5, 10-5) got back into the win column, defeating the Rancho Cucamongo Quakes (10-6, 10-6) 5-4 at LoanMart Field.
Closer RHP Scott Griggs (0-1, 1.69) was pitching in the ninth after finishing the eighth. With one out Castillo snuck one over the left field wall for his second home run of the season and it broke the 4-4 tie, ultimately giving Visalia the 5-4 win.
RHP Jimmie Sherfy (SV: 3) allowed two men on base in the bottom of the ninth but thanks to some nifty defense on a throwing error by Sherfy himself, danced out of the jam and preserved the 5-4 win to earn his third save of the season.
Rancho, against RHP Ethan Elias, who logged another quality start, scored two runs (earned) on three hits in the first inning to take an early lead. LF Kyle Garlick scored CF Andrew Toles, who singled, for the first run and then a double play ball by 1B Matt Beaty scored DH Tim Locastro for the second tally.
After the two run, three hit first inning the Quakes had only two base runners and no hits against Elias through his six innings of work. He walked one and struck out four but did not factor into the decision.
Visalia inched back with a run in the second off RHP Trevor Oaks on two singles and a run scoring double play ball by C Matt Jones that cut the lead to 2-1 Quakes.
In the sixth, Oaks final frame, the Rawhide strung three hits in a row together and 3B Dawel Lugo drove in DH Rudy Flores for the tying run, knotting the game at 2-2.
Oaks finished pitching six innings, but gave up 11 hits and two runs (earned) on a walk and five strikeouts.
It became a bullpen game and Rancho's blinked first when RHP A.J Vanegas walked RF Victor Reyes to begin the frame. An error put two men on base for Visalia and after a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Flores gave the Rawhide the lead with a single that scored Reyes and it was 3-2.
LHP Zac Curtis came in and promptly walked the first man he faced before allowing a single. He proceeded to strikeout the next two hitters before SS Erick Meija laced a two-run triple to give Rancho a 4-3 advantage.
RHP Kyle Hooper was next out of the bullpen for the Quakes and he issued a one-out walk to Jones. After 1B Cody Regis reached on an infield single, Jones was lifted for a pinch runner in the form of Ericson Leonora. RHP Scott Griggs was summoned from the Quakes bullpen and CF Colin Bray welcomed him rudely into the ballgame with an RBI, game tying single that scored Leonora and made it a 4-4 game.
The homer for Castillo in the ninth is the second time this season that he has homered in the ninth en route to a come-from-behind victory for Visalia and it's the tenth long ball of the season for the Rawhide as a team.
RHP Luis Ramirez (3-0, 3.86), who pitched after Curtis, earned the win for his shutout 1.1 innings of work. He walked one and struck out two, improving to 3-0 on the season.
The Rawhide and Quakes continue the four game series tomorrow night from LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga. Visalia will see RHP Bo Takahashi (0-0, 1.80) make his second start against RHP Andrew Sopko (0-0, 7.36) for the Quakes with another 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
California League Stories from April 23, 2016
- A Grand 12-9 Win for the Nuts - Modesto Nuts
- Four-Run Ninth Leads Nuts to 4-1 Win - Modesto Nuts
- Nuts' Ninth-Inning Rally Sinks Giants - San Jose Giants
- Big Eighth Spoils Jethawks Comeback Attempt - Lancaster JetHawks
- Near No-No for Blaze Pitchers, Bako Cruises 10-0 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Castillo Gives Visalia the Win with Home Run in the Ninth - Visalia Rawhide
- Ports Rally to Down Sixers 3-2 - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Lose Late Lead, Fall to Visalia - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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