Garcia's Strong Outing Wasted as San Rafael Pacifics Fall to Maui
August 2, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release
MAUI (Aug. 1, 2012) - San Rafael Pacifics starter Jesse Garcia picked an off night to turn in one of his best outings of the season.
The young lefty pitched 5-plus innings, scattered four hits, struck out five and didn't allow an earned run in perhaps his best start as a professional, but the San Rafael offense wasn't up to the task, as the Maui Na Koa Ikaika beat Garcia (0-2) and the Pacifics 2-1 on Wednesday night at Iron Maehara Stadium.
A Tyler Graham wild pitch plated Waylen Sing Chow in the seventh, giving Maui (23-21) a 2-1 lead, and handed San Rafael (27-17) a second consecutive loss. It's the first time the first-place Pacifics have lost two consecutive since a June 16 doubleheader in Maui.
Maikel Jova - leading the North American League with a .366 average - was 1 for 4, extending his mini hit streak to five games. The Pacifics outfielder has hit safely in 42 of San Rafael's 44 games this season, and he has reached base in 43 consecutive contests, dating back to June 5.
Chad Bunting (1 for 3) had an RBI double in the fifth inning to score Chase Fontaine, giving San Rafael a short-lived 1-0 advantage. Since joining the team June 25, the catcher is hitting .400 (4 for 10) with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk in five games.
Zack Pace had the only other hit for San Rafael, who now leads the NAL North Division by four games over Maui.
Sing Chow went 3 for 5 with singles in the third, fifth and seventh and scored the deciding run.
San Rafael had no answer for Maui starter Jessie Smith (6-2), who allowed two hits in 7 innings and struck out five. Smith's 1.55 ERA is tops in the league, just ahead of Sonoma County's Dustin Crenshaw (1.98).
San Rafael faces Maui on Thursday at Iron Maehara Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. PDT. Follow the action on www.Pacificsbaseball.com, watch the game on Game Live, or follow the Pacifics on Twitter.com, @SRPacifics .
North American League Stories from August 2, 2012
- WhiteWings and Thunder Tied in Extra Innings - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Roadrunners Outslugged by Prairie Dogs - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Welch Back Down - Abilene Prairie Dogs
- Garcia's Strong Outing Wasted as San Rafael Pacifics Fall to Maui - San Rafael Pacifics
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