NAmL San Rafael Pacifics

Pacifics Take Third Consecutive Home Series

Published on July 7, 2013 under North American League (NAmL)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release


SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The San Rafael Pacifics used an early lead and another strong performance from ace Tyler Pearson to earn an 8-1 victory over Na Koa Ikaika Maui on Sunday. The win clinched the team's third consecutive home series and gives the Pacifics a three and a half game lead in the Pacific Association standings before flying to Hawaii for a 12-game stretch.

The Pacifics (25-8) were in control from the offset. Miscommunication between Maui's middle infielders turned what could have been a double-play ball into runners at first and second for San Rafael. Matt Walker's (3-2) pitch tailed in on and hit Kyle Dhanani to load the bases with two outs followed by a walk to left fielder Chase Fontaine for an early 1-0 Pacifics lead. A Danny Gonzalez double to the right-field corner, just out of the reach of a diving Jose Chema Sanchez, quickly made it 3-0. A wild pitch allowed Fontaine to come home and moved Gonzalez up to third. He scored easily on a ringing double down the right field line by catcher Kevin Reinking, which ended Walker's day at just two thirds of an inning.

Pearson (6-1) went seven innings strong on the hill for San Rafael and struck out eight, bringing his total to 58 in 50.1 innings. The righty has now gone seven or more innings in his last six games, having won all of those decisions. Pearson's biggest challenge on Sunday came in the seventh inning. An error led to a one out, bases-loaded situation for Maui but Pearson struck out shortstop Charlie Mirabal and induced a Gregorich popup to work his way out of trouble.

"They got a good lead and made it easy on me," said Pearson. "Reinking and I worked very well together, getting ahead and then putting guys away, and keeping everybody off balance."

Maui (23-13) reliever Chris Waters allowed an unearned run in the fourth. Pacifics designated hitter Johnny Woodard beat out a throw by Brandon Gregorich, who was unable to backhand Woodard's ball cleanly, scoring second baseman Price Kendall from third.

The Pacifics put the game out of reach in the eighth with another pair of runs. Pinch hitter Steve Detwiler drove in first baseman Darrick Hale and third baseman Kyle Dhanani's single plated right fielder Maikel Jova to make it 8-1.

"When you've got the starting pitching like we do, with Pearson shoving for seven innings shutting out everybody, it's going to be hard to beat us," said Detwiler. "We just hit the ball hard, they made a few mistakes and we capitalized on them. We keep on doing that and we'll be alright."

Maui's lone run came in the seventh off of reliever Casey Russell. Angus Roger reached on a dropped ball in the outfield by Fontaine and came around to score on third baseman Jimmy Rohan's single.

San Rafael will fly to Hawaii for six games apiece against the Hawaii Stars and Maui beginning July 11. The Pacifics return home on July 23 and will face the East Bay Lumberjacks for three games, then a weekend set versus the Vallejo Admirals. It was announced earlier in the week that East Bay plans to join the Pacific Association for the 2014 season. Tickets for those games are available atwww.pacificsbaseball.com.

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North American League Stories from July 7, 2013


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