Rawhide Drop Third Straight 7-6 in Opener to Quakes
April 22, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - The Visalia Rawhide (9-5, 9-5) dropped their third ballgame in a row Thursday night in the series opener at LoanMart Field, 7-6 to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (10-5, 10-5).
Another late rally for the Rawhide fell short after they connected for two home runs in the seventh inning off Quakes starter RHP Josh Sborz (1-1, 2.75). SS Dawel Lugo connected for his second home run of the season, a solo shot and two batters later, after a C Tyler Baker walk, LF Ericson Leonora blasted his third long ball of the year making it a 7-6 ballgame in favor of the Quakes.
In the ninth against RHP Karch Kowalczyk (SV: 1), Visalia got a walk from Leonora and a single by RF Victor Reyes but for the second night in a row stranded the tying run on bases in the loss.
The "Hide grabbed an early 1-0 lead against Sborz on a CF Colin Bray triple in the first inning, Bray eventually scored on DH Grant Heyman's RBI groundout.
Lugo reached on an error to begin the second frame and Baker doubled him to third. Reyes, in the nine hole, slapped a two-run single and the lead was 3-0 Rawhide.
Rancho inched back with a tally in the second via a walk, a single and a wild pitch by Rawhide starter LHP Josh Taylor (0-2, 6.87) but the levy truly broke in the third .
A 3-1 Visalia advantage was quickly erased when nine men came to the plate in the third. Rancho Cucamonga banged out six hits in the inning and scored five runs to jump out to a 6-3 lead.
An insurance run and the eventual game winner crossed the plate in the sixth for Rancho against Taylor when 3B Jordan Tarsovich tripled and scored on SS Erick Meija's sacrifice fly for a 7-3 lead.
Taylor logged six innings and was charged with seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits, two walks and he struck out five in the loss.
The seventh inning proved to be Sborz's final frame when he allowed the two long balls to Visalia. His final line was enough for the win, pitching seven innings and giving up six runs (four earned), a walk and he struck out eight.
The bullpen combo of RHP Joe Broussard and Kowalczyk combined for two shutout innings, the latter earning the save stranding two men on in the ninth.
RHP Blake Perry pitched two scoreless innings to wrap it up for Visalia.
Tomorrow night from LoanMart Field Visalia's starting pitcher is TBD in game two of the series. Rancho Cucamonga will throw RHP Trevor Oaks (1-1, 3.79). It's another 7:05 p.m. first pitch as the Rawhide look to snap their three game losing streak.
California League Stories from April 22, 2016
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- Ports to Reward Six Millionth Fan in Attendance with 2016 Season Tickets - Stockton Ports
- 66ers Snap Skid, Carpenter Shines on Mound - Inland Empire 66ers
- Rawhide Drop Third Straight 7-6 in Opener to Quakes - Visalia Rawhide
- Suarez Sensational in 5-2 Giants Victory - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Back on Track with Win over Visalia - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Campbell, Bats Boost Blaze to 7-4 Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Boyd, Tanielu Go Deep but JetHawks Drop Opener - Lancaster JetHawks
- Strong Arm Stops Nuts Bats in 5-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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