Oaks Extinguish Blaze 7-4 on Memorial Day
Published on May 30, 2006 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
The Visalia Oaks (23-28) cruised past the Bakersfield Blaze (21-30) 7-4 Monday night. The Memorial Day victory gave Visalia a series victory and a 4-4 record on the 8 game homestand.
The Oaks took the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Fernando Perez led off with a lined single up the middle, then stole second and advanced to third on a deep fly ball to center field by Reid Brignac. Perez sprinted in to score on a passed ball that got away from catcher Emerson Frostad to make the score 1-0.
Visalia added another run in the third. Perez led off with a bunt single and again stole second base for his 14th steal of the season. With one out, Shaun Cumberland singled to drive in Perez and give the Oaks a 2 run lead.
Bakersfield came back to tie the game with 2 runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Steven Murphy doubled and German Duran walked to put runners on first and second. Juan Gonzalez chopped a ball towards second base that bounced past Josh Asanovich for an error. Murphy scored on the play with Duran going to third and Gonzalez making it to second. First baseman Phillip Hawke grounded a ball to shortstop and both runners broke. Duran came in to score easily and Gonzalez was thrown out trying to advance to third. Oaks' starter Chirs Mason escaped further damage and both runs were unearned.
Mason went 5 solid innings to earn the win without allowing an earned run. He gave up just 4 hits and struck out 3 batters. Reliever Nick DeBarr was strong in a three inning relief performance giving up two soft singles. He retired the final eight batters he faced and struck out three.
The Oaks answered with two runs in the home half of the fourth to retake the lead and never looked back. Josh Arhart singled and Colt Simmons was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Asanovich ripped a double into the left center field gap to drive in Arhart and give Visalia the lead. With one out, Fernando Perez singled to drive in Simmons and the Oaks led 4-2.
Perez finished the game 3-5 with 2 runs, an RBI and 2 stolen bases.
Visalia increased their lead in the fifth with a two out rally. Patrick Breen and Arhart walked to put two men on. Breen stole third base and Frostad's throw sailed into left field allowing Breen to trot home making the score 5-2. Simmons then punched a single up the middle to drive in Arhart and give the Oaks a 4 run cushion.
Vislalia added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on Mark Schleicher's solo homerun to right field. Schleicher had started the season 0-20 with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. He was reassigned to Visalia yesterday and snapped a 0-23 to start 2006.
The Blaze pushed across a pair of meaningless runs in the top of the ninth against reliever Brian Allen on a 2-out, 2-RBI single by Jayce Tingler.
The Oaks head for the road Tuesday to start a 6 game road trip at Inland Empire and High Desert. Visalia's next home game is Tuesday, June 6 at 6:35.
California League Stories from May 30, 2006
- Colon to Rehab in Rancho Thursday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Oaks Extinguish Blaze 7-4 on Memorial Day - Visalia Rawhide
- JetHawks Blast Three Homers in 11-4 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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