Fell’s Fantastic Start Propels Sir Loins to Series Clinching Win

Visalia, CA – Mervin Fell tossed five innings allowing just two runs and the Visalia Rawhide (50-69, 22-31) playing Saturday as the Central Valley Sir Loins defeated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (57-61, 21-31) 6-2 at Valley Strong Ballpark.

Visalia clinches the series with their fourth win of the week and still one game left to play in the series.

Fell scattered five hits across his five frames of work with just one walk allowed while recording seven strikeouts. He earned his second win of the season. Fell holds a 3.13 ERA across five starts since the All-Star Break.

Rancho Cucamonga used back to back doubles to take a 1-0 lead in the first. The Sir Loins answered in the bottom half of the frame. Carson Kerce walked, Brayden Dowd singles and Nathan Hall laced an RBI single up the middle to tie the game.

Visalia took the lead for good in the fifth inning. Ryder Helfrick led off with a single and Pedro Blanco worked a walk to kickstart the inning. After a catchers’ interference error and a fielders’ choice Jack Spanier lined a two out two RBI double down the right field line for a 3-1 lead.

The Quakes cut the lead to one in the sixth but the Sir Loins added a tally in the bottom of the frame. Kerce led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a Dowd single and scored on Helfrick’s sacrifice fly.

Helfrick provided added insurance in the eighth, mashing a 437 foot two run home run off the batters’ eye in center field. The 15th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has hit four home runs in his first 13 pro games.

Visalia’s bullpen continued their excellent week. Samuel Gonzalez tossed three shutout innings with two strikeouts and Erick Reynoso closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

Dowd finished with his first pro three hit game while Helfrick and Hall added two hits apiece. Kerce worked three walks and scored three times. Tytus Cissell singled to extend his on-base streak to 10 games.

Visalia is seven games out of a playoff spot with 13 contests left to play.

The Rawhide and Quakes conclude the series on Sunday. Valley Strong Ballpark will host a Family Fun Sunday presented by Spirit Radio and Valley Children’s Healthcare.

Tipper’s Kids Club members can enjoy an ice cream social thanks to Lee’s Air. Plus all kids can receive a free Adventist Health baseball for pregame autographs from 11:15 to 11:30 AM with Rawhide players. All kids will have the opportunity for a postgame running of the bases.

Families can sign up their kids for Tipper’s Kids Club by visiting the Rawhide Ticket Office presented by Kaweah Health or by stopping by the ballpark’s guest services booth during a game.

Fans 21 and older can enjoy eight dollar margaritas and micheladas during Sunday’s game.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 PM with gates opening for season ticket holders at 10:45 AM and the general public at 11:00 AM.

All Rawhide tickets are available through the team’s website and at the stadium box office starting at 10 AM on Sunday.

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The Visalia Rawhide are the Single-A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks playing professional baseball in the Central Valley since 1946. The Rawhide's 2026 theme is "Savor the Season" as the team transforms into the Central Valley Sir Loins on Saturday gamedays.   

Stay up to date with the Rawhide on the team’s website and by following the Rawhide on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and X. The Rawhide play all home games at Valley Strong Ballpark located at 300 N Giddings Street Visalia, CA 93291.

Fans can purchase season ticket packages, group ticket plans, single game tickets and team merchandise through the Rawhide website and at the stadium ticket office sponsored by Kaweah Health. All Rawhide games can be watched on MLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live App with a free radio broadcast also available online. Select home games will be aired on KNXT MyTV53. For more information, visit milb.com/visalia, email [email protected] or call (559) 732-4433.