Photo: Steve Cummings/CalLeagueHeat.com
My first chance to see the sizzling Visalia Rawhide this year made clear how strong the team is and why they have a double-digit lead in the standings. A 13-hit attack including six doubles and a triple produced eight runs, which were more than enough for starter John Omahen as the Rawhide rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Modesto Nuts. A Rawhide Ballpark crowd of 2,534 made plenty of noise as the home team scored in four of eight turns at bat.
With a record of 33-15 at the start of the game, Visalia has made quick work of the first-half race in the North division and will possibly start eliminating the teams at the bottom of the standings less than two weeks from now. On the offensive side, the Rawhide are third in the Cal League in runs scored, hits, homers, total bases and slugging percentage, while leading the league in doubles. A lot of the thump in the middle of the order comes from Daniel Palka, Stewart Ijames and Kevin Cron, who have combined for 28 homers with Palka leading the way at 12. These gentlemen were heard from tonight, numerous times.
Starter John Omahen gave up a second-inning run, as the Nuts took an early lead. But by the time the Rawhide got their scoring machine rolling with a four-run fourth inning, Omahen was settled into a groove that handcuffed the Modesto hitters until he left after the seventh. Unofficially, he threw 95 pitches, 64 for strikes, allowing three hits over seven innings while walking three and striking out six.
The fourth-inning fireworks kicked off with a single from Palka that was followed by three consecutive doubles. Ijames, Cron and Kevin Medrano all laced two-baggers that put Visalia ahead by a 3-1 count. Two outs later, Chuck Taylor tripled past a diving (and very busy) Raimel Tapia in left to make it 4-1, Visalia, and they added on frequently the rest of the way.
Palka reached on an error with one out in the fifth, and Ijames brought him in with a single. In the seventh, Palka walked, Cron singled him to second, and Jamie Westbrook drove him home with a single. Another run in the eighth, more Palka. He doubled in Breland Almadova to finish the scoring.
The heart of the order was lethal tonight, and it stretched pretty far down the lineup card. The 3-through-7 hitters in the order (Palka, Ijames, Cron, Medrano, Westbrook) combined to go 10-for-20 with six doubles, seven RBIs and seven runs scored.
That was an embarrassment of riches for Omahen who was solid all night. After the four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth, Omahen went out for the top of the fifth and got three quick outs on seven pitches. He improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.75 and his WHIP to 1.10, tied for third-lowest in the league.
*****
Another great night at Recreation Ballpark. A big Saturday night crowd enjoyed the dominant victory as well as a ton of giveaways and the usual fun and games from the mascot Tipper and the rest of the Rawhide staff. On one of the first really warm days around here, it felt great as the sun went down and day turned to night.
Photo: Steve Cummings/CalLeagueHeat.com
This was also my first chance to see the newest Hall of Fame plaques that were added earlier this year. The 2015 class included Don Drysdale and Joe Charboneau. Drysdale, the Hall of Fame pitcher for the Dodgers, owned the Visalia baseball club from 1989 to 1993. Charboneau played for Visalia in 1978 and went on to be named AL Rookie of the Year with the Cleveland Indians.
Another perfect evening at the ballpark. They continue to do it right in Visalia.
Photo: Steve Cummings/CalLeagueHeat.com
