NAmL San Rafael Pacifics

Pacifics Turn Triple Play But Comeback Falls Short

Published on August 17, 2013 under North American League (NAmL)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release


SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The San Rafael Pacifics let an early lead slip away and despite another strong effort at the plate from Price Kendall, the Pacifics fell 8-5 to the Hawaii Stars in front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday at Albert Park.

Price - who leads the Pacific Association in batting average (.341), RBIs (62), and runs scored (69) - went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs. However, he lost the ball on the transfer after a stolen base by Kellen Lee in the fourth. That allowed the Stars to take the lead for good, 3-1. Hawaii added a pair of runs in the fifth, then doubled the lead in the ninth to make it 8-2.

Zack Pace led off the ninth with a walk and Kendall doubled to left field to put the pair in scoring position. Chase Fontaine drove both home with a double of his own, and Maikel Jova singled Fontaine home to pull San Rafael within three. The rally was quickly diffused by a double play ball though and Tony York induced a groundball to first base to end the game.

Maikel Jova's RBI double and Kyle Dhanani's RBI single in the first gave the Pacifics an early 2-1 lead that didn't stick. The RBI gave Jova 62 for the season, which ties Kendall for the league lead.

The Pacifics' biggest highlight of the night came defensively, a spectacular 4-6-3-2-5 triple play in the sixth. With his momentum carrying him towards the bag, second baseman Price Kendall backhanded the ball and underhand flipped to Danny Gonzalez coming across the bag to cover. Gonzalez threw across to first baseman Darrick Hale to get batter Reece Alnas at first, then Hale threw home to catcher Matt Quintero, who caught runner Kellen Lee attempting to come home. Quintero ran Lee back to the bag and threw to third baseman Kyle Dhanani, who applied the tag on Lee to complete the triple play.

San Rafael starter Christian Scholl (6-5) went five innings and allowed four runs, though just two were earned. He struck out four and walked a pair. Hawaii's Onan Masaoka (3-5) earned the victory and scattered five hits while striking out three.

The two teams meet again on Sunday, August 18 in the rubber game of the series. First pitch is slated for 1:15 p.m. Sonnen BMW Weekend concludes at Albert Park with the Celebrity Softball Game taking place at noon before Sunday's game. The game will feature Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley; former Major Leaguer and Future Prospects Baseball Director Charles Scott; former NFL defensive end and San Rafael High School alumnus Natu Tuatagaloa; professional boxer Paul Nave; San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter John Shea; and the mascots from Dominican University of California and Sonoma State. Tickets are still available at www.pacificsbaseball.com.

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North American League Stories from August 17, 2013


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