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Rawhide Walk Off on Stockton

Two-Run Ninth Propels Rawhide to First Walk-Off Win of 2018
(Aaron Provencio)
May 11, 2018

VISALIA, CA - With one out in the ninth, two strikes against him, and while facing dominant Stockton closer Miguel Romero, Raymel Flores flared a double that landed barely inside the third base line to ignite a rally.

VISALIA, CA - With one out in the ninth, two strikes against him, and while facing dominant Stockton closer Miguel Romero, Raymel Flores flared a double that landed barely inside the third base line to ignite a rally.

Camden Duzenack followed Flores by falling behind Romero as well. But Duzenack worked the count full and replicated Flores's success: serving a double down the right field line to score Flores and tie the game at four.
 
Marcus Wilson grounded out to third and moved Duzenack up to third base, putting the winning run 90 feet away for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez, who leads the Rawhide in both home runs and RBIs, rolled a seeing-eye single up the middle that evaded the reach of speedy shortstop Kevin Merrill.
Duzenack trotted home to sore, giving the Rawhide their first walk-off win of the season and ending their season-long losing streak at four games. It gave Romero (0-2) his first blown save of the year.
Visalia (19-15) had twice trailed in the game: once by three runs after a bases-clearing double by Jonah Heim in the third and once by a run in the seventh when Melvin Mercedes singled home Kevin Merrell.
Each time the Rawhide clawed their way back into the game. Stephen Smith and Luis Silverio both drove in runs in the fourth inning on a groundout and a ground rule double respectively to narrow the deficit to 3-2. Daulton Varsho grounded into a fielder's choice in the fifth to bring home Duzenack and tie the game.
Kevin McCanna held Stockton (20-14) to three unearned runs on four hits over five innings with five strikeouts and was given a no-decision. Josh Taylor (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to pick up his first win of the year.
Zack Erwin dealt six strong innings for Stockton and was also credited with a no decision.
Duzenack and Hernandez both led the way for Visalia with multi-hit games. The win was the first walk-off victory for Visalia this year and marked the first time that the Rawhide have won any game where they trailed after the eighth inning.
Visalia hits the road for a seven-game road trip, starting with a four-game set in Rancho Cucamonga tomorrow night. The Rawhide will send RHP Riley Smith (1-2, 4.98) to the bump against RHP Dean Kremer (1-1, 4.88). First pitch is at 7:05 PM.

The Visalia Rawhide are a professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League and are the only professional sports team in Tulare and Kings counties. The team has been an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007 and is entering their 72nd year of play in 2018. The Rawhide renovated their home at Recreation Ballpark in 2009 and have since become the largest gathering of individuals in Tulare County, having set an attendance record for the seventh time in the past eight seasons in 2017. In 2018, the Rawhide look to continue their reputation for hosting competitive baseball while providing affordable family entertainment. To be a part of the 2018 Visalia Rawhide season, please contact the Visalia Rawhide Ticket Office at 559.732.4433, visit us online at rawhidebaseball.com, or follow us on Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@VisaliaRawhide), and Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide).