Dramatic Brignac Homerun In Bottom of Ninth Sends Fans Home Happy
July 14, 2006 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
Reid Brignac sent home 1,502 fans at Recreation Park happy with a walk-off, solo homerun to deep right field giving the Visalia Oaks a 7-6 win.
The Oaks (12-8/45-45) beat the Modesto Nuts (6-15/40-50) to split the four game series and improve Visalia to 4-3 on the home stand.
Visalia struck first with 5 runs in the bottom of the second inning. With Josh Arhart on first and two outs, Josh Asanovich singled to put two runners on. Leadoff hitter Fernando Perez chopped a single to the shortstop with Arhart coming in to get the Oaks on the board. With Brignac batting, Asanovich came in to score on a throwing error by the pitcher Greg Reynolds. Brignac then smoked a double off the wall in left center field to bring in Perez and Evan Longoria followed that up with a two run homer to left giving the Oaks a 5-0 lead.
In the top of the third Modesto got on the board as Jose Valdez lined a solo shot over the right field wall. The Nuts rallied for four runs in the fourth inning to come back and tie the score. Jeff Dragicevich, Matt Miller and Kyle Wilson reached to load the bases. Oaks starter James Houser came back to strike out the next two batters. Houser then walked Jose Valdez to force home Dragicevich. The next batter, Luke Sargent hammered a bases clearing double off the wall in left-center field tying the game at 5-5.
Sargent finished the night 1-4 with a double and 3 RBI.
Modesto took the lead briefly with a run in the eighth. Matt Miller doubled and was sacrificed to third. Then left fielder Justin Nelson singled to left to drive in Miller and make the score 6-5.
Visalia answered with a run in the eighth. Chris Nowak and John Jaso singled to put runners on the corners. Arhart hit a sacrifice fly onto the warning track in left field to drive in Nowak and make the score 6-6 setting up Brignac's heroics in the ninth.
The Oaks go on the road for a six game series beginning with three games in Bakersfield over the weekend followed by a three game set in Modesto. Visalia returns home on Friday, July 21st to face the San Jose Giants for a four game series. First pitch is at 7:05 PM with a player poster giveaway sponsored by Idea Printing.
California League Stories from July 14, 2006
- Mavericks Gun Down Ports in Extra Innings 3-2 - High Desert Mavericks
- Dramatic Brignac Homerun In Bottom of Ninth Sends Fans Home Happy - Visalia Rawhide
- Bullpen Blows Lead, Quakes Fall 9-6 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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