Rawhide Crack Nuts in Series Sweep
VISALIA, CA- Visalia (14-6, 14-6) turned a four run deficit into an 8-4 victory en route to sweeping the Modesto Nuts (8-12, 8-12) at Recreation Ballpark on Thursday night.
DH Colin Ferguson started the scoring with a solo home run, his second of the series, in the second inning against RHP Ethan Elias for a 1-0 Modesto advantage.
The Nuts, in the third, increased the advantage to 4-0 courtesy of four straight singles and a walk. CF Wes Rogers lined a two-run single and 3B Luis Jean plated a run with an infield single.
That was the end of the night for Elias after pitching three innings and allowing four runs (earned) on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts. For the 20th game in succession, the Rawhide would not have a starting pitcher earn a win.
The comeback began for Visalia in the home half of the third when Modesto starter RHP Ryan Castellani (0-1, 4.64) walked the bases loaded. 2B Domingo Leyba knocked in a run with a fielder's choice, followed by 1B Rudy Flores sacrifice fly and then a DH Henry Castillo RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3 Nuts.
In the fifth CF Colin Bray singled and moved to third on Leyba's double and eventually scored on Flores RBI groundout. SS Dawel Lugo got in on the hit parade with an RBI single, plating Leyba and Visalia had claimed the lead at 5-4.
Castellani lasted six innings and was hung with the loss for his nine hits allowed and five runs (earned), he walked three and struck out three.
RHP Nick Baker (2-0, 3.00) pitched three scoreless innings to bridge the gap to the backend of the bullpen, earning the win for his six strikeout performance; he walked one and allowed one hit as well.
In the seventh against RHP Colin Welmon Flores struck again, this time with a two-run home run to cap his four RBI night and then C Matt Jones knocked in LF Grant Heyman to cap the scoring at 8-4 Rawhide.
LHP Austin Wright pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout, LHP Zac Curtis pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two and RHP Bud Jeter pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts to run the game total of strikeouts for Visalia pitching to 18, a season high.
The San Jose Giants come to town tomorrow night to open up a three game series at Recreation Ballpark and on the mound in the opener for Visalia it will be RHP Wei-Cheih Huang (0-0, 7.36) against RHP Sam Coonrad (0-1, 0.00) for the Giants. First pitch in the ballgame is at 7:00 p.m. on a Fun-Filled Friday at the Ballpark presented by Suncrest Bank.
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