Encarnacion, Anderson Combine for Rawhide Shutout on Opening Day

A Sellout Crowd of 2,649 Fans Packed Valley Strong Ballpark

April 5, 2025

Visalia, CA – Lorenzo Encarnacion and Casey Anderson combined to pitch a shutout performance on the mound as the Visalia Rawhide defeated the Inland Empire 66ers 4-0 on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. The Rawhide (1-0) won on 2025 Opening Night over the 66ers (0-1) in front of a

Visalia, CA – Lorenzo Encarnacion and Casey Anderson combined to pitch a shutout performance on the mound as the Visalia Rawhide defeated the Inland Empire 66ers 4-0 on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark.

The Rawhide (1-0) won on 2025 Opening Night over the 66ers (0-1) in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,649 fans.

Encarnacion tossed five shutout innings and earned the win in his opening day start. The Dominican Republic native allowed just two hits while totaling seven strikeouts and no walks.

Anderson dominated in relief with four shutout innings with two strikeouts and allowing just two baserunners. The Utah native earned the save.

Visalia scored all four runs in the first inning. Jose Alpuria doubled off the left field wall on the first pitch of the first inning and came around to score the game’s first run. Four singles came later in the inning including a key two out single by Alberto Barriga.

Barriga, a catcher from Mexico, totaled two hits adding a double in the eighth inning. Yassel Soler added a two hit night as well.

D-Backs 2024 1st round pick Slade Caldwell totaled a single, walk and run in his professional debut while also making a running catch in center field in the second inning.

Opening weekend at Valley Strong Ballpark presented by Budweiser and the Bueno Beverage Company continues on Saturday with postgame fireworks presented by Budweiser. The first 500 fans will also receive a Clear Backpack Giveaway presented by Tint Master Visalia. First pitch between Visalia and Inland Empire is slated for 6:30 PM.

Fans can purchase tickets online or at the Rawhide Ticket Office presented by Kaweah Health on Saturday.

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 MLB.TV with a free radio broadcast also available online. For more information, visit milb.com/visalia, email [email protected] or call (559) 732-4433.