Smith's Dominance Sets up Visalia Win

VISALIA, CA - Riley Smith took the mound for tonight's game against San Jose. He turned in a great outing going for five shutout innings allowing just three hits and no runs scored. After surrendering back to back base hits to open the game Smith settled in and retired the next six hitters he faced, paving the way for his first shutout outing since June 7^th.

Smith (W, 5-5) snapped a five-appearance streak without a win and defeated the Giants for the first time this year. He held San Jose hitless in six at bats with runners in scoring position and struck out six hitters for the first time since whiffing eight against the Giants on June 29^th.
Smith and Domenic Mazza took a pitcher's duel into the fifth. After Smith held the Giants quiet in the top of the frame, Mazza faltered. He surrendered four hits, including three doubles, leading to his departure.
The rally started when Luis Alejandro Basabe doubled into the left center field gap. Mazza (L, 3-2) followed by allowing a single to Mark Karaviotis, putting runners on the corners. Dillon Dobson mishandled a Jasrado Chisholm grounder, plating Basabe and putting Visalia up 1-0.
Pavin Smith doubled down the right field line to score two and Renae Martinez scored Smith with a double of his own to chase Mazza. Peter Lannoo allowed a run-scoring single to Adam Walton which put the Toro's on top 5-0.
Mazza was tagged for five runs, three earned on eight hits over 4.1 innings.
Visalia (53-56/ 16-23) added on one run in the sixth and two more in the eighth thanks to three more doubles to cruise to an 8-1 win.
Karaviotis's consecutive hits streak reached eight at bats before he got to first base on an error by Giants shortstop Kelvin Beltre in the sixth. The streak was two hits shy of the California league record, which has been achieved four times. He finished with three hits, one RBI and two runs scored.
Pavin Smith drove home two with a double in a two-hit night. Collectively, los Toros had five different players put up multi-hit performances. Seven different players recorded a hit.
The Visalia bullpen combined to allow one run over four strong innings while striking out six. West Tunnell threw two shut down innings while striking out three in his Visalia debut.
San Jose (47-62/ 13-26) has now fallen in three straight games and four of their last five.
Los Toros continue the series tomorrow night and will send RHP Matt Peacock (3-2, 4.96) to the mound against Giants RHP Carlos Sano (2-3, 3.88). First pitch is at 7:00 PM and tickets are available on Rawhidebaseball.com.