Visalia Inks One-Run Win, 3-2 over Modesto
April 28, 2016 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA, CA - Visalia (13-6, 13-6) plated the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a bloop, RBI single by DH Henry Castillo that gave the Rawhide a 3-2 lead and RHP Jimmie Sherfy made it stand up by striking out the Modesto (8-11, 8-11) side in the ninth to ink the save.
Against LHP Helmis Rodriguez (1-1, 3.57) in the eighth inning of a 2-2 ballgame, SS Domingo Leyba doubled to open the frame. A wild pitch moved Leyba up the 90 feet to third. With the infield for Modesto in, Castillo lifted a shallow pop fly out to shallow right field that forced 2B Forrest Wall and RF Drew Weeks to converge on the area. Wall went into a slide with his back towards the infield but couldn't come up with the baseball and Leyba scooted home with the eventual game winning run in the eighth.
Visalia took a 1-0 lead against RHP Carlos Polanco in the bottom of the first when 2B Cody Regis walked and Leyba doubled him to third. 1B Rudy Flores knocked in Regis with an RBI groundout for the advantage.
In the home half of the second, the Rawhide added a run on back-to-back doubles by LF Grant Heyman and C Matt Jones, who picked up his first RBI in the California League to make it a 2-0 lead.
LHP Josh Taylor cruised through his first three innings with some help from his defense, who turned double plays in each of the first two innings. In the fourth, on an infield single by CF Charlie Blackmon, playing in his second MLB rehab game with Modesto, a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout, Modesto cracked the scoreboard and made it 2-1.
Taylor pitched six innings for the third consecutive start and he left in-line for the win after allowing one run (earned) on four hits, one walk and he struck out four.
Polanco pitched five innings and relinquished two runs (earned) on four hits, two walks and he struck out five.
Modesto tied the game in the seventh on DH Omar Carrizales's RBI single that scored C Dom Nunez from second base and made the score 2-2 and ensuring that through 19 games, still no Visalia starting pitcher would earn a win. RHP Blake Perry became the pitcher of record when he allowed the tying run on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.
RHP Luis Ramirez (4-0, 2.79) pitched a one, two, three eighth inning and earned the win after the go-ahead run scored in the bottom of the eighth.
Sherfy came in and absolutely blew away Modesto, striking out hitters four, five and six to end the ballgame and give Visalia a series win and earning his fifth save in as many chances in 2016.
Tomorrow night Visalia goes for the series sweep of Modesto. The Rawhide will send RHP Ethan Elias (0-1, 5.71) to the mound against RHP Ryan Castellani (0-0, 3.52) of the Nuts. First pitch at 7:00 p.m. from Recreational Ballpark with the gates opening at 6:00 p.m.
California League Stories from April 28, 2016
- Dropped Fly Ball Sends Ports to 3-2 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Giants Complete Sweep of Ports with 11-Inning Win - San Jose Giants
- Baum's Inside the Park Shot Powers Blaze - Bakersfield Blaze
- Tanielu Goes Deep But Blaze Rally Late - Lancaster JetHawks
- Visalia Inks One-Run Win, 3-2 over Modesto - Visalia Rawhide
- Giants Top Ports for Third Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- Error Dooms Ports in 4-2 Loss - Stockton Ports
- Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
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