Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Defeat
Published on April 21, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - The rubber match of the three game series between the Visalia Rawhide (9-4, 9-4) and the Stockton Ports (7-6, 7=6) was a back and forth affair that saw Stockton break a 3-3 tie in the sixth, add an insurance run in the eighth and withstand a ninth inning rally to hold onto the 5-4 win at Recreation ballpark on Wednesday night.
Visalia, in the ninth, picked up a one-out single from 3B Dawel Lugo, who moved to second base on a groundout and scored on RF Victor Reyes RBI single to make it a 5-4 lead. Hot hitting 1B Cody Regis was up next and grounded out to end the ballgame.
RHP Brad Keller (0-1, 4.00) made his third start of the season for Visalia on Wednesday night and logged a quality start for the Rawhide. Pitching seven innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits, he walked one and did not record a strikeout.
RHP Henderson Alvarez made a MLB rehab start for the Ports and pitched three innings allowing one run on three hits and a strikeout.
The Visalia offense gave Keller a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Alvarez when CF Colin Bray singled. SS Domingo Leyba singled behind Bray, pushing him to third base. With DH Rudy Flores up, Leyba broke for second base. C Andy Paz fired a strike down to the bag in time to get Leyba and Bray broke for the plate, beating the return throw home.
The Rawhide increased the lead to 2-0 against RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-0, 2.12) in the fourth inning on an infield single by Bray. After a fielder's choice ball and an error moved Bray to third 2B Henry Castillo knocked him in.
Stockton brought home three against Keller in the fifth on a single by 1B John Nogowski, an RBI double by SS Mikey White and then an RBI single by 3B Melvin Mercedes. On the Mercedes single there was a throwing error by Bray in centerfield that allowed Paz to score, who walked. The Paz run was the go-ahead run and it was 3-2.
Visalia struck back in the bottom of the fifth against Fillmyer when Lugo reached base on an infield single and Regis extended his hitting streak to nine games with an RBI double, making it was a 3-3 game.
The tie game was short lived as Stockton reclaimed the lead in the sixth. RF Tyler Marincov broke a 0-for-12 stretch in the series with a single and scored on White's second RBI double of the game to make it 4-3.
In the eighth LHP Austin Wright came in and issued a two-out walk to Nogowski, who crossed the plate courtesy of a DH Sandber Pimentel RBI double to push the lead to 5-3.
Fillmyer came back out for the ninth and closed out the ballgame when he induced the Regis groundout. For Fillmyer, he pitched six innings in relief of the rehabbing Alvarez and gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits and he struck out one.
Fillmyer picked up his second win as Keller was straddled with his first loss of the decision, despite the quality start.
Visalia heads to LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamongo tomorrow night to open up a four game series with the Quakes. On the mound for Visalia will be LHP Josh Taylor (0-1, 5.11) against RHP Josh Sborz (0-1, 1.42).
California League Stories from April 21, 2016
- Road Trip Ends Quietly for Blaze - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Host Modesto to Begin Homestand - San Jose Giants
- Stockton Takes Rubber Match at Visalia 5-4 - Stockton Ports
- Storm Swat Seven Homers in 17-3 Rout of Giants - San Jose Giants
- Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Defeat - Visalia Rawhide
- LE Storm Set Franchise Record with 7 Home Runs - Lake Elsinore Storm
- 66ers Drop Seventh Straight to High Desert in 6-4 Loss - Inland Empire 66ers
- Grill Helps 'Hawks End Series on High Note - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Complete 5-2 Road Trip with Loss in Lancaster - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Stout Arms, Big Bat Send Nuts to 1-0 Win - Modesto Nuts
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