VISALIA, CA - For the second straight night, it was the home run, which has eluded Visalia at times this year, that made the difference in a big win. The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning and southpaw Evan Manarino, who had set down 14
VISALIA, CA - For the second straight night, it was the home run, which has eluded Visalia at times this year, that made the difference in a big win. The game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning and southpaw Evan Manarino, who had set down 14 straight batters last time he faced Visalia in a relief role, was on to hold the tie. Manarino had given up back-to-back one-out singles and was facing Nick Baker with runners on the corners, needing a double play to get out of the inning.
Manarino, whose game relies upon command, fell behind Baker three-and-oh, a count where most batters will automatically take a pitch. Baker got a fastball down the middle and, given the green light, blasted a high, arcing shot deep into the night, clearing the barn in right-center field to give the Toros a 4-1 lead. But Visalia (57-55/21-21) wasn't done offensively.
The Toros scorched Manarino (L, 5-8) for an additional three runs in the sixth inning that all started with a solo homer from Grant Heyman to lead off the inning. After Fernery Ozuna lined out, Visalia would put up three consecutive hits to score another two runs, then added a walk and two more hits to score a total of five in the inning against Manarino and Joey Wagman. Visalia had sent ten men to the plate and had broken it open to a 9-1 lead.
Visalia added another two runs in the seventh on a two-run single by Ben DeLuzio, plating Ozuna and Jorge Flores. Visalia followed the hit by by loading the bases with one out, but couldn't add on and settled for an 11-1 lead.
Stockton (54-58/18-24) was quiet at the plate until the ninth, when the Ports scored four runs against Nick Baker in a rally that included a two-run home run by Skye Bolt. But with a runner on second and the powerful Seth Brown at the plate, Baker reached back and struck out Brown on four pitches to end the game.
The Toros combined for a season-best 18 hits, surpassing the mark they set in the second game of the season on April 7 in Lancaster. DeLuzio and Galli Cribbs Jr. both contributed three hit games, while Jason Morozowski, Austin Byler, Fernery Ozuna, Henry Castillo, and Jorge Flores all had two hits. Byler drove home two and Flores drove home one and scored a pair.
Sam Lewis (W, 1-1) dealt five strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Lewis had one perfect inning and, along the way, showed an ability to work through jams, stranding six runners on base, five of which were in scoring position. Stockton's lone run against him came on a RBI single by Sheldon Neuse in the third inning. Wei-Chei Huang tossed three shutout innings in relief to pick up his first hold for Visalia. Norge Ruiz was lifted after four innings for Stockton, having allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts and did not factor in the decision.
Visalia will continue the four-game series with the Stockton Ports tomorrow as well as Taquiza y Toros weekend, where the Rawhide will become the Visalia Toros to celebrate the Hispanic heritage of Tulare County. First pitch is at 7 PM and will feature RHP Jose Almonte (8-8, 3.79) for the Rawhide and RHP Angel Duno (8-7, 4.82) for Stockton. Tickets are still available on Rawhidebaseball.com.
