Rawhide Walk off on Stockton
Published on May 11, 2018 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - With one out in the ninth, two strikes against him, and while facing dominant Stockton closer Miguel Romero, Raymel Flores flared a double that landed barely inside the third base line to ignite a rally.
Camden Duzenack followed Flores by falling behind Romero as well. But Duzenack worked the count full and replicated Flores's success: serving a double down the right field line to score Flores and tie the game at four.
Marcus Wilson grounded out to third and moved Duzenack up to third base, putting the winning run 90 feet away for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez, who leads the Rawhide in both home runs and RBIs, rolled a seeing-eye single up the middle that evaded the reach of speedy shortstop Kevin Merrill.
Duzenack trotted home to sore, giving the Rawhide their first walk-off win of the season and ending their season-long losing streak at four games. It gave Romero (0-2) his first blown save of the year.
Visalia (19-15) had twice trailed in the game: once by three runs after a bases-clearing double by Jonah Heim in the third and once by a run in the seventh when Melvin Mercedes singled home Kevin Merrell.
Each time the Rawhide clawed their way back into the game. Stephen Smith and Luis Silverio both drove in runs in the fourth inning on a groundout and a ground rule double respectively to narrow the deficit to 3-2. Daulton Varsho grounded into a fielder's choice in the fifth to bring home Duzenack and tie the game.
Kevin McCanna held Stockton (20-14) to three unearned runs on four hits over five innings with five strikeouts and was given a no-decision. Josh Taylor (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to pick up his first win of the year.
Zack Erwin dealt six strong innings for Stockton and was also credited with a no decision.
Duzenack and Hernandez both led the way for Visalia with multi-hit games. The win was the first walk-off victory for Visalia this year and marked the first time that the Rawhide have won any game where they trailed after the eighth inning.
Visalia hits the road for a seven-game road trip, starting with a four-game set in Rancho Cucamonga tomorrow night. The Rawhide will send RHP Riley Smith (1-2, 4.98) to the bump against RHP Dean Kremer (1-1, 4.88). First pitch is at 7:05 PM.
California League Stories from May 11, 2018
- Bo Takahashi Named Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Month - Visalia Rawhide
- Inland Empire Sweeps JetHawks, Takes over First Place - Inland Empire 66ers
- Quakes Blast Storm, Take Two of Three - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Late Offense Sparks 13-7 Giants Victory - San Jose Giants
- Rawhide Walk off on Stockton - Visalia Rawhide
- Late Offense Sends Nuts to Series Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Rawhide Roar Back, Hand Ports 5-4 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Lancaster Unable To Avoid Sweep - Lancaster JetHawks
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