NAmL San Rafael Pacifics

Pacifics Five Game Winning Streak Snapped by Admirals

Published on July 27, 2013 under North American League (NAmL)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release


SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The first-place San Rafael Pacifics experienced a feeling they had nearly forgotten on Friday night at Albert Park as the Vallejo Admirals rallied back and dealt the the Pacifics a 3-2 loss. The loss snapped a five-game Pacifics win streak.

After a quiet three and a half innings of baseball, a Matt Kavanaugh (2 for 4, two RBI) screamer right back up the middle and under the glove of Admirals pitcher Erik Gonsalves (4-3) ended a scoreless battle. The two-out RBI single scored Johnny Woodard (2 for 4, run) and Kyle Dhanani, who led off the frame with singles.

Pacifics (36-13) starter Kyle DeVore (4-3) worked out of trouble in the fifth. After allowing a pair of singles, he got Tillman Pugh swinging, then induced a Lito Roman groundout to third baseman Kyle Dhanani, who took it himself for the force at third.

Pitching out of a jam caught up to DeVore in the seventh though. After two outs, the reenergized Admirals ballclub rallied with singles by Andrew Rubalcalva and Tillman Pugh. Roman got the best of DeVore in their fourth encounter with a three-run homer to left field. That gave Vallejo (16-21) a sudden 3-2 lead and made the righty a hard-luck loser. He fanned eight in his six and two third innings and walked just one. Dan Rogers came on in relief and was backed up by another sharp play at third by Dhanani to end the inning.

The Pacifics stranded a runner in the seventh and went in order in the eighth. Rogers worked a scoreless eighth and AJ Gallardo kept the game close with a perfect ninth inning of relief.

Danny Gonzalez led the bottom of the ninth off with a walk, then reached second on a bunt by Darrick Hale, who was called out on a close play with Gonsalves covering. The call that had Hale holding his head in disbelief injected life into the Pacifics crowd, which rose to its feet and pounded plungers - the giveaway of the night as part of the team's "Salute to Indoor Plumbing" - on the grandstand. Joe Lewis entered for Vallejo and induced a Kavanaugh groundout that moved Gonzalez to third. He was stranded though on a Zack Pace groundout that gave Lewis his second save of the season.

"I know we're all pretty grateful that we had a tight game. It's nice to have meaningful at-bats. I think we needed that as a team," said Kavanaugh "That's why you play baseball. You come out the next day and have another chance at the same group of guys. We're extremely eager to get after them tomorrow."

If the loss gave fans a headache there's always a silver lining. The Pacifics are handing out cold packs to fans on Saturday, July 26 courtesy of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, the official healthcare provider of the Pacifics. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.

Check out the San Rafael Pacifics Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American League Stories from July 27, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central