Four Run Frames Key Rawhide Win Over 66ers

Visalia, CA – The Visalia Rawhide defeated the Inland Empire 66ers 8-6 on Saturday night at Valley Strong Ballpark behind a pair of four run innings.

The Rawhide (2-0) secured the Opening Weekend Series over the 66ers (0-2) in front of a crowd of a near sellout of 2,626 fans.

For a second consecutive night Visalia plated four runs in the first inning. Jose Alpuria started the game with a single. Ruben Santana doubled to left to score Alpuria and the first run of the game. Abdias De La Cruz then provided the inning’s big hit with a two out two RBI double to center field.

Inland Empire tied the game with a pair of runs in the third and fourth frames.

The Rawhide responded with another four run inning in the fifth. Slade Caldwell led off the inning being hit by a pitch and Yassel Soler followed with a single. Caldwell later came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

De La Cruz totaled his third RBI of the night on a sacrifice fly and Adiran De Leon topped off the inning with a two RBI double.

Nate Savino earned the win in relief tossing 2.2 innings with four strikeouts. Joangel Gonzalez secured a save by pitching the final four outs including two strikeouts. Gonzalez induced a groundout for the last out of the eighth when the 66ers had the tying run on base.

Soler had a two hit night for the second straight game to start the season. Eight of nine Rawhide batters recorded a hit with every batter reaching base. Caldwell reached three times with two walks along with his HBP.

Opening weekend at Valley Strong Ballpark presented by Budwesier and the Bueno Beverage Company concludes on Sunday at 2 PM. The first 100 Tipper’s Kids Club members to visit Valley Strong Ballpark’s Guest Services will receive a Rawhide Confetti Jersey presented by Valley Children’s Healthcare & Allen Law Firm. More information on Tipper’s Kids Club can be found on the Rawhide’s website.

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

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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 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.