Yassel Soler’s Extra Inning Walk-off Home Run Stuns Storm

Visalia, CA – Yassel Soler hit a two run walk off home run in the tenth inning to give Visalia a 5-3 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Thursday night at Valley Strong Ballpark.

Visalia (20-22) has won the first three games of the series over Lake Elsinore (17-25).

The Rawhide were down to their last strike in the bottom of the tenth but Alberto Barriga hit a game tying RBI single to score the automatic runner Diosfran Cabeza.

Soler followed by smashing his fourth home run of the season 400 feet to left field off the Valley Strong Ballpark video board.

Lorenzo Encarnacion worked his second quality start of the season for Visalia on Thursday pitching six innings without allowing an earned run. He totaled three strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

The teams traded a run apiece in the second and sixth innings. Abdias De La Cruz led off the second with a single and scored on a double play.

In the sixth inning Ruben Santana hit a two out RBI single to score Barriga and tie the game at two.

Lake Elsinore chipped across a run in the tenth on an RBI single scoring the automatic runner before the Rawhide walk-off in the bottom half of the frame.

Santana led Visalia with two hits and Barriga scored twice.

Rocco Reid earned his first professional win tossing two innings without allowing an earned run. Darlin Pinales added two shutout innings in relief.

Rawhide second baseman Yerald Nin made a outstanding key defensive play with an over the shoulder diving catch and then doubled up a Storm runner at first base to record the first two outs of the eighth inning.

Visalia and Lake Elsinore continue the series on Friday with a 6:30 PM first pitch. Friday is another historical Visalia jersey giveaway with the first 350 fans (21 and older) receiving a jersey in the style of the Visalia White Sox, courtesy of Bud Light and Folds of Honor.

Fans can also take advantage of a 4 for $44 Friday sponsored by Valley Pacific Petroleum & Chevron. Fans will receive four tickets, four hot dogs and four fountain sodas for $44 by showing a Chevron credit card or a 4 for $44 Voucher, which can be picked up at participating Chevron locations.

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The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team and the Single-A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rawhide are celebrating 80 years of professional baseball in Visalia in 2025 as the “Year of the Oak.”  

Stay up to date with the Rawhide on the team’s website and by following the Rawhide on Facebook, X, Instagram and Tik Tok. 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 packages, 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 MiLB.TV with a free radio broadcast also available online. For more information, visit milb.com/visalia, email [email protected] or call (559) 732-4433.