Rawhide Erase Five-Run Deficit in Extra-Innings Thriller
VISALIA, CA - In the first night of a four-game battle for first place in the Cal League North, Stockton came out of the gates swinging; the Ports took a commanding five-run lead before the Rawhide had come to the plate. The first three hitters all reached against Matt Peacock
VISALIA, CA - In the first night of a four-game battle for first place in the Cal League North, Stockton came out of the gates swinging; the Ports took a commanding five-run lead before the Rawhide had come to the plate. The first three hitters all reached against
From there, he locked in. Peacock didn't allow another hit until the sixth, striking out seven hitters in the process.
The respite from Ports runs allowed Visalia to stoke the embers of a comeback. Jazz Chisholm doubled and scored on a double play in the fourth to get the Rawhide on the board and
Both teams struck for a run in the sixth, then Visalia (65-65/28-32) got to the Ports bullpen in the seventh.
After a double steal put two runners in scoring position, and with an overshift to the right side of the infield, Varsho served a single out to left center, plating both runs and tying the game at 6.
Stockton (71-59/27-33) scored their go-ahead run on a bang-bang play at the plate in the top of the tenth but, thanks to groundouts by
That set the stage for
With
Ports reliever
Varsho finished with a pair of hits and two-RBI while Chisholm had two hits, walked twice, and scored twice. Smith's home run was his second in as many nights. Peacock's tale-of-two-outings resulted in a no-decision, though over his final five innings he held the Ports to one run on two hits.
The five-run lead was the largest deficit erased by Visalia in a winning effort this year and marked the first time they had walked off since July 2. The Rawhide now have sole possession of first place with ten games remaining in the regular season. Visalia will play Stockton (one game back) seven more times and Modesto (two games back) in three more games.
The Rawhide look for their third win of the season tomorrow night when RHP