The Visalia Rawhide graciously accepted three errors by Rancho Cucamonga to post a four-run inning in a 4-2 victory over the Quakes on Saturday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. Yilber Diaz (W, 4-2) struck out nine over six innings and combined with two relievers to make the big inning stand up.
Rancho Cucamonga took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Kenneth Betancourt RBI single. It was the only run Diaz would allow.
Visalia came back in the third with a rally that started with an error, a sac bunt and a single by Juan Corniel, who advanced to second on an error by LF Luis Rodriguez. With the score tied 1-1, two walks loaded the bases before a throwing error by SS Austin Gauthier allowed the go-ahead run to score. Alvin Guzman followed with a two-RBI single to put the Rawhide up 4-1.
Meanwhile, Diaz cruised through the sixth inning, allowing just the one run on three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.
Miguel Gil came on for two innings, giving up an eighth-inning run on two walks and two groundouts to make it 4-2.
Carlos Meza (S, 1) pitched the ninth, allowing a leadoff walk before striking out three straight batters to end the game.
Corniel and Guzman each had two hits, accounting for four of Visalia’s total of five. Jean Walters had a single in two at-bats.
In Diaz’ last three outings, he has gone six innings twice and 5 2/3 innings once, allowing just one earned run in each start. Over those 17 2/3 innings, the 21-year old from Venezuela has walked five and struck out 27. Over 48 IP this season, Diaz K/9 is 13.13.
Corniel had a 14-game hitting streak snapped on Friday night but came right back with two hits on Saturday. In July, the 19-year old Dominican is 20-for-61 (.328) with three doubles, a triple and a homer.
The teams have split the first two games of the three-game series with game three on Sunday at 6PM.
SCOREBOARD
SAN JOSE – 3
MODESTO – 12
Box
Story
Jordan Jackson (MOD) – W (6-7), 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 8 K
Milkar Perez (MOD) – 2-for-4, BB, 2 RBIs
Edwin Arroyo (MOD) – 2-for-5, 2 RBIs
Brett Rodriguez (MOD) – 2-for-4, BB, RBI
STOCKTON – 5
FRESNO – 9
Box
Story
Yanquiel Fernandez (FRE) – 3-for-5, HR (12), 3 RBI, 2 Runs scored
Juan Guerrero (FRE) – HR (11), 2 RBIs, 2 BB
T.J. Schofield-Sam (STK) – HR (3)
Junior Perez – (STK) – HR (9)
McCade Brown (FRE) – W (3-4), 6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K
LAKE ELSINORE – 10
INLAND EMPIRE – 13
Box
Quentin Selma (IE) – 3-for-4, 3 Runs scored
Jeremy Arocho (IE) – 3-for-3, BB, 2 Runs scored
Kevin Watson Jr. (IE) – 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBIs
Charlis Aquino (LE) – HR (2), 2 RBI
James Wood (LE) – 2-for-4, HR (8), BB, 2 Runs scored
