Rawhide Bullpen Secures 3-2 Win with 5.2 Scoreless Frames
April 9, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CA-The Rawhide (2-0, 2-0) jumped out to an early lead and ultimately hung on for a 3-2 victory in game two of the opening series against the Bakersfield Blaze (0-2, 0-2) on Friday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Visalia's bullpen once again showed their spurs, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings in relief to secure the victory.
Visalia capitalized on an early defensive miscue by 2B Gianfranco Wawoe, who made an error for the second straight contest, when 1B Rudy Flores notched his first RBI of the season with a two-bagger that brought home CF Colin Bray for a 1-0 lead.
DH Ericson Leonora, making his first appearance in 2016, singled to begin the second inning and promptly scurried home when C Oscar Hernandez laced the second RBI double in as many innings for a 2-0 'Hide lead.
3B Dawel Lugo connected for a solo home run in the top of the fourth for a 3-0 Rawhide lead. The Rawhide picked up seven of their eight total hits against Blaze starter LHP Anthony Misiewicz (0-1, 3.60) in his five innings of work. In the loss Misiewicz allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned), a walk and he struck out five. The combination of RHP Isaac Sanchez and LHP Kyle Hunter kept the Rawhide off the board for the final four frames, allowing a single hit and a couple of walks.
Bakersfield cracked the scoreboard in the home half of the fourth with two runs against Visalia starter RHP Miller Diaz. Diaz didn't survive the fourth inning after dealing with constant traffic on the base paths through the first three. Bakersfield left five men on base in the first act of the ballgame. A lead-off double in the fourth by 3B Brock Hebert began the rally. Three batters later, after a walk and a fly out, LF Arby Fields singled home Hebert to cut the lead to 3-1. With two outs, SS Drew Jackson singled home Wawoe, who walked after the double, to make it 3-2 Rawhide. DH Chantz Mack walked to load the bases and that spelled the end of the night for Diaz. RHP Nick Baker (1-0, 0.00) was summoned and he ended the rally by inducing RF Austin Wilson to hit a comebacker.
Diaz lasted 3.2 innings on the mound, relinquishing five hits, two runs (both earned) on five walks and four strikeouts.
Baker earned the win for his 1.1 innings out of the 'pen. He gave up one hit and walked one, giving way in the sixth to RHP Myles Smith, making his debut in 2016. Smith picked up right where Baker left off, pitching two scoreless innings while issuing just two walks.
RHP Zac Curtis (SV: 1) entered and absolutely blew Bakersfield away to earn his first save of the season. Curtis struck out the side in the eighth and then promptly struck out two more with a double sandwiched in between in the ninth. The ballgame ended on a Hebert groundout to SS Domingo Leyba preserving the win for Baker.
For the second straight night the Rawhide earned a one-run win there their closer stranded the tying run in scoring position. Flores had a two-hit night an evening after banging out three and RF Victor Reyes, in his first action, had a two-hit night in the win.
Tomorrow night will see another 7:15 p.m start from Sam Lynn Ballpark as RHP Ethan Elias (0-0, 0.00) take the ball for Visalia against RHP Tyler Herb (0-0, 0.00) for Bakersfield.
The Visalia Rawhide will officially begin their 70th consecutive season of baseball in Visalia with the home opener on Thursday, April 14th vs. Bakersfield at Recreation Ballpark with a 7:00 PM first pitch. Tickets and group packages are on sale now! Call the ticket office at 559-732-4433 or head to rawhidebaseball.com for tickets and more information!
California League Stories from April 9, 2016
- Rawhide and Blaze Suspended Due to Rain - Visalia Rawhide
- Saturday's San Jose Giants Game Postponed Due to Rain - San Jose Giants
- Rain Postpones Nuts and Ports - Modesto Nuts
- Saturday's Giants-JetHawks Game Postponed - San Jose Giants
- Tonight's Game Postponed - Lancaster JetHawks
- Ports Reschedule Saturday, April 9th Game - Stockton Ports
- Ports Suffer First Loss, Fall 8-3 to Nuts - Stockton Ports
- Rawhide Bullpen Secures 3-2 Win with 5.2 Scoreless Frames - Visalia Rawhide
- Friday's Game Suspended Due To Rain - Lancaster JetHawks
- Quakes Earn First Win of 2016, Hold off Storm on Friday - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Timely Knocks Put Nuts in Win Column - Modesto Nuts
- Blaze Strand 13 in Tough One-Run Loss - Bakersfield Blaze
- Friday's San Jose Giants Game Suspended Due to Rain - San Jose Giants
- Demeritte Homers Twice More in Mavs 9-5 Win - Inland Empire 66ers
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