VISALIA, CA - After a sixth-inning error allowed two Ports runs to score and tie the game at three, Jason Morozowski strode to the plate with one out in the seventh inning. Visalia had not had a hit since the third, and had only reached base on a two-base error
VISALIA, CA - After a sixth-inning error allowed two Ports runs to score and tie the game at three, Jason Morozowski strode to the plate with one out in the seventh inning. Visalia had not had a hit since the third, and had only reached base on a two-base error since.
Morozowski took the first pitch from Kyle Friedrich's first pitch for a ball, and then unloaded on the next offering for a go-ahead solo homer to left-center, giving Visalia a 4-3 lead. It was Morozowski's first home run since July 26, and his fourth go-ahead homer of the year. Visalia (59-55/23-21) then took advantage of back-to-back-to-back errors by the Ports on two grounders and a deep fly ball to left, to make it a 5-3 advantage.
Stockton (54-60/18-26) committed five errors on the game, tying their season high, which led to two unearned runs for the Toros, one against Friedrichs (L, 1-2) and the other against starter Dalton Sawyer, who pitched through the fifth inning and allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with six strikeouts.
Yoan López (W, 1-0) had taken over for Austin Mason to start the seventh and struck out the side in order. After Visalia took the lead, Lopez pitched a perfect ninth to bring his ERA to a 0.51 mark and has struck out 28 hitters in 15.1 innings. Tommy Eveld took over for the ninth, looking for his second save in as many games, and worked around a one-out double by Seth Brown by striking out Mikey White and pinch-hitter Shendon Neuse to end it. Eveld (SV, 2), who saved 14 games for Kane County before his promotion, has now saved both games where he's been called upon for Visalia.
The Toros plated two runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Morozowski and Matt Jones. Then, with two outs, Richie Martin threw a ball away on a Matt McPhearson groundout, allowing Austin Byler to score from third and give the Toros a 3-1 lead.
Jon Duplantier lasted five innings tonight on 67 pitches, 41 of which were strikes. He worked in and out of trouble all night, inducing two double play balls and striking out a pair. The only run against him came on a run-scoring double by Skye Bolt. On the play, Fernery Ozuna's relay throw was wild, so Bolt tried to take third. Duplantier backed up the play and threw a perfect strike to third to retire Bolt and empty the bases with two outs. Only one more man would reach against Duplantier for the remainder of his outing.
Visalia completed a series sweep of Stockton, their third this season and the first of the second half, and kept a one-game lead over San Jose in the Cal League North second half standings with 26 games remaining. Morozowski finished with two hits, two runs, and two RBIs and Ben DeLuzio added a two-hit night with a single and a triple.
Visalia has a day off tomorrow and will hit the road for a six-game trip that starts with a three-game series in Lancaster. First pitch on Tuesday is at 6:35 PM and will match up RHP Bo Takahashi (6-7, 4.02) and Lancaster RHP Peter Lambert (9-8, 4.01). The live radio broadcast will be available on Rawhidebaseball.com.
