Bats Blast Rawhide to Series Win

STOCKTON, CA - The Visalia Rawhide combined clutch hitting with a great start from Emilio Vargas to cruise to a 9-2 win in the series finale in Stockton.

For the third straight day Visalia (11-7) got their offense going in the first inning as the Rawhide put two runs across against Brendan Butler (L, 2-1) on RBI singles by Ramon Hernandez and Pavin Smith. Visalia never surrendered the lead.
The Rawhide added on two more in the fourth inning when Stephen Smith doubled home Mark Karaviotis and Camden Duzenack singled to score Smith. Adam Walton clubbed a three-run homer in the eighth inning and Drew Ellis balsted a two-run shot in the ninth to cap the Rawhide scoring at nine runs.
Visalia drove home five runs with two outs and had six hits with runners in scoring position.
The run support was more than enough for Vargas, who put together his best outing of the season on the mound. Vargas (W, 1-0) went five shutout innings with a season-high eight strikeouts while scattering four hits and walking only one batter. Today marked the first time that Vargas had walked fewer than three opposing hitters this season.
Stockton (10-8) put up their lone offense in the eighth inning when they scored a pair of runs off of Tommy Eveld. However, with a comfortable lead, Eveld battled and struck out Collin Theroux to end the game.
Marcus Wilson, Hernandez, and Stephen Smith all put up multi-hit performances for the Rawhide and every player in the Rawhide lineup collected at least one hit.
With the win, Visalia now shares first place in the California League North Division standings with the San Jose Giants.
The Rawhide have an off-day tomorrow and will kick off a six-game homestand on Tuesday, April 24, as they host the Lancaster JetHawks (A-Advanced, Colorado Rockies) for a three-game set. Tuesday night will match up Rawhide RHP Riley Smith (2-0, 5.74) against Lancaster RHP Brandon Gold (2-1, 6.75). First pitch is at 6:00 PM and tickets are still available on Rawhidebaseball.com.