The Visalia Rawhide have been a powerhouse this season, winning the first-half title in the North Division and getting out of the gate strong in the second half, despite numerous roster changes. But on Monday they were playing to avoid a sweep at home against the Bakersfield Blaze.
It all looked good for Visalia through seven innings as they held a 4-0 lead and starter Ryan Doran and reliever Bud Jeter had put up a string of zeroes. But Bakersfield got up off the mat in the eighth with four runs to tie the game.
Slugger Daniel Palka led off the bottom of the ninth for the Rawhide and he needed just one pitch to finish it off. His 15th homer of the season gave Visalia the win at 5-4. The Rawhide (13-5) now hold a two-game lead over Modesto and San Jose in the second-half standings.
Mitch Haniger led off the game with his seventh home run and Doran went 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out three.
MONDAY SCOREBOARD
LANCASTER 9, HIGH DESERT 3
Ronnie Mitchell goes 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs to lead Lancaster’s 13-hit attack.
INLAND EMPIRE 5, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2
Eric Aguilera goes 2-for-5 with a double, a homer (10) and two runs scored. Alan Busenitz goes three scoreless innings in relief and Geoff Broussard pitches a scoreless ninth for his eighth save.
SAN JOSE 8, MODESTO 2
Tyler Horan goes 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored as the Giants win their seventh straight. San Jose is just two games out of first place.
STOCKTON 7, LAKE ELSINORE 3
Hot-hitting Franklin Barreto goes 4-for-5 with a homer (9) and three RBIs as Stockton takes the series from the Storm.
PITCHER/PLAYER OF THE WEEK
San Jose’s Chase Johnson was named California League Pitcher of the Week for his outing against Modesto: 7IP, 1H, 0ER, 2BB, 8K.
A.J. Reed of Lancaster had another monster week and was named California League Offensive Player of the Week. Before being promoted to AA on Sunday, Reed went 12-for-19 with two doubles, a triple and three home runs.
TAPIA STAYS HOT IN FUTURES GAME
Modesto’s Raimel Tapia took a break from his Cal League on-base streak to play in the Futures Game in Cincinnati on Sunday and he had two hits for the World Team in their 10-1 loss to the USA squad. Tapia has reached base in his last 11 plate appearances with Modesto. The Cal League record is 14-straight.
Inland Empire’s Sean Newcomb pitched a scoreless inning for USA. Keury Mella of San Jose pitched for the World team and allowed two runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Here’s the box score for the game, with numerous Cal League alums taking part:
