Henry Castillo Hits Eighth Home Run to Win It 2-1
Published on July 9, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - There were two heroes on Friday night for Visalia (53-33, 7-9) in their 2-1 victory over Bakersfield (49-37, 12-4) at Recreation Ballpark. Henry Castillo played the hero for the offense, blasting a solo home run over the left field wall in the seventh to give Visalia the advantage and Stryker Trahan, who threw out the would-be tying run at the plate in the ninth to end the ball game.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz (5-7, 4.39) went the distance in the 2-1 loss allowing a solo run in the fourth inning and 2B Henry Castillo's solo blast in the bottom of the seventh that broke a 1-1 tie and was the eventual game winner.
RF Stryker Trahan, with a runner on third and one out in the top of the ninth drifted underneath the 3B Joe DeCarlo's fly ball to right field. He lined himself and made the catch as C Tyler Marlette prepared to tag up and try and score the tying run. Trahan made the catch and with his momentum going forward threw a one-hop bullet to C Michael Perez that was up the third base line just a bit. As Marlette ran by, Perez caught the one-hop throw, whirled around in a circle and got the tag on the backside of Marlette who landed in a pile on the other side of home plate. Perez turned and looked at the home plate umpire and out was the call. Ballgame over.
A pitcher's duel the entire length of the ballgame ended in exciting fashion on Friday night as RHP Justin Donatello (1-0, 0.00) made his California League debut after being promoted from Kane County prior to the start. Donatella did not disappoint, pitching seven innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits, he walked one and struck out six in the win.
In fact his defense, which would decidedly make up for it, made a couple of mistakes in the third inning behind him. DH Gianfrancoe Wawoe doubled with two outs in the third and moved to third on, ironically, on a Trahan throwing error. A wild pitch by Donatella allowed Wawoe to score the go-ahead run and break up the 0-0 stalemate.
In the bottom of the fourth against Misiewicz Visalia picked up a double of their own from CF Zach Nehrir. Two batters later, with Nehrir now at third base, 2B Domingo Leyba hit a hard ground ball to third that went for an infield, RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
During a stretch from the final out in the third inning and two outs in the seventh inning Donatella retired 12 straight Bakersfield Blaze until Castillo broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh with his home run.
RHP Cameron Gann pitched a scoreless eighth inning and then RHP Bud Jeter (SV: 14) entered in the ninth. Jeter, fresh off blowing his first save of the season, allowed a lead-off double and then 1B Jay Baum bunted Marlette over to third base setting up Trahan's heroics. Jeter earned his 14th save of the season and continues to lead the California League (active) in saves.
The four game series continues tomorrow night with another 7 p.m. first pitch from Rawhide Ballpark. Visalia will send LHP Alex Young (0-0, 4.50) to the mound for his second start of the season against RHP Osmer Morales (1-2, 6.11). It's Military Appreciation Night presented by Drill Sergent's Military Supply and Biker Gear and an All-American Saturday presented by Budweiser.
California League Stories from July 9, 2016
- Mavs Edge Quakes on Saturday Night - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Five-Run Fifth Helps Ports Past Giants 11-5 - Stockton Ports
- Ports Cruise Past Giants to Even Series - San Jose Giants
- Giants Surge Late, Beat Ports 11-7 - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Shutout for First Time in 2016 - Inland Empire 66ers
- Blaze Unable to Solve Puzzle in Defeat to Rawhide - Bakersfield Blaze
- Eight-Run Inning Propels Giants Past Ports - San Jose Giants
- Henry Castillo Hits Eighth Home Run to Win It 2-1 - Visalia Rawhide
- Nuts Comeback Spoiled in Extras - Modesto Nuts
- Quakes Blast Mavs - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Lancaster 4, Inland Empire 0 - Lancaster JetHawks
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