Sports stats



CalL1 Visalia Rawhide

Visalia Oaks vs. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

July 9, 2004 - California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release


This is the only series of the season at Recreation Park between Visalia and Rancho Cucamonga. The Quakes lead the season series 3-0 on a three game sweep at the Epicenter May 11-13. Prior to that sweep, the Oaks had won eight of their last ten games against Rancho Cucamonga, including a pair of three game sweeps at Recreation Park. The last Quakes last victory in Visalia was June 12, 2002.

On Paper Jeff Salazar is one of the best players in the California League. However, he is no longer with Visalia and was promoted to Double-A Tulsa of the Texas League on Monday. Salazar left as the league leader in batting average (.347), hits, (109), runs scored (79), slugging percentage (.586) and extra base hits (40). He has been replaced in two of those categories by a new Cal League leader, Rancho Cucamonga's Erick Aybar, who is batting .348 with 114 hits and a league-leading total of 38 stolen bases.

Quakes Slugger Michael Napoli is the league leader with 19 home runs and 77 RBI. Visalia outfielder Sean Barker is second in the league with 70 RBI.

Von Stertzbach is the active Cal League leader with 13 saves. He earned a pair of saves two months ago against the Oaks. Mike Cosgrove had 16 saves for Visalia before he was promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs last week.

Past Oak Promoted: Jeff Francis, who will play in Sunday's Futures Game in Houston for the World Team has been promoted from Double-A Tulsa to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Francis went 13-1 for the Drillers this season, including a perfect 10-0 start. He is 23-3 since the beginning of June 2003. Francis pitched all of last year for the Oaks and threw a no-hitter against Modesto at Recreation Park on July 6. He also had a two-hit shutout vs. Inland Empire on July 22 and a three-hit shutout in game four of the North Division Championship Series against Stockton on September 9.

A Slow Start: The Oaks are 0-6 at home in the second half and have dropped 7 consecutive home games since a win June 19 vs. Modesto.

Sweeps Stakes: This season, Visalia has been swept at home by three of the other four South Division teams: Lake Elsinore April 20-22, Inland Empire April 27-29 and Lancaster June 21-23. The Oaks swept the other South Division team, High Desert at Rec Park June 4-6.

Tonight's Promotions: Bank of the Sierra Player Posters, presented by IDEA! Printing and Graphics featuring Oaks starting pitcher Jon Asahina will be given to the first 500 fans entering tonight's game. It is a Will Tiesiera Ford Mercury Grand Slam Friday. If the Oaks hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, one fan chosen at random will win a new car from Tiesiera Ford Mercury. Following tonight's game, members of the Kraft Kids Club will be allowed on the field to get autographs from Oaks players and coaches. Kraft Kids Club memberships can be purchased at the Oaks ticket window during the game for fans ages 5-12. All kids will be allowed to run the bases after the autograph session.

Before Tonight's Game, Cheerleaders from the Visalia YMCA will be performing on the field. They are also holding a fundraiser through the sale of Grandstand Reserved tickets to tonight's game.

On the Visalia Buick-Pontiac-GMC Barbecue Picnic Deck: Members of the Visalia Optimists Club are enjoying the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet.

Tonight's Starting Pitchers

RHP Jon Asahina (2-4, 5.73 ERA) is coming off four consecutive starts against Modesto as the Oaks played a stretch of 13 out of 16 games against the A's, ending July 3 with Asahina's most recent start. He went 0–2 in that stretch allowing at least four earned runs in each game with fewer than five innings pitched in each game. Asahina began the season working from the bullpen and entered the starting rotation on a permanent basis on May 9. He has never faced Rancho Cucamonga.

RHP Daniel Davidson (6-4, 3.76 ERA) is in his first California League season and has never faced the Oaks. This will be his seventeenth start of the season. Davidson has struck out three times as many batters as he has walked (75/23) and is fifth in the league with 95.2 innings pitched.

Check out the Visalia Rawhide Statistics



California League Stories from July 9, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Visalia Rawhide Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central