Rawhide Crush Bakersfield, Clinch Playoff Berth

BAKERSFIELD--The Rawhide completed a remarkable stretch run with a 12-3 beating of Bakersfield to clinch the North Divsion Wild Card and their 2nd consecutive postseason berth.

After their 12th straight loss on July 9th, the Rawhide had fallen to 41-49 and were 5 games behind San Jose. But they've gone 34-14 since to surge past the Giants and into the playoffs. They also left San Jose out of the postseason for the first time since 2003.

Yet again, the Rawhide started early on Saturday; Rudy Flores clubbed his 28th homer of the season in the top of the first, driving in his 100th run, and giving the 'Hide a 1-0 lead.

They scored 4 times in the top of the 2nd, as Ryan Gebhard doubled off the wall to bring home 3 runs, and another scored on a wild pitch. It was 5-0.

Bakersfield got back into it in the last of the 4th; homers by Marquez Smith and Sebastian Elizalde made it 5-3.

But it was all Visalia after that; they scored 2 huge runs in the 6th on a 2-out error to regain control, 7-3. And they wouldn't look back.

They piled on 5 more in the top of the 8th to put it away; Ryan Gebhardt singled in a run, Raul Navarro singled home another, Breland Almadova knocked in a 3rd, and Rudy Flores hit a flare double to bring in 2 more.

Andrew Barbosa was the winner for the 'Hide; Keith Hessler threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, and Enrique Burgos shut down the 9th.

The Rawhide will open Game 1 of the Wild Card Round at home on Wednesday; first pitch will be at 6:00!

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