The Visalia Rawhide pushed across five runs in the seventh inning to overtake the Lake Elsinore Storm and pull away for a 12-8 victory on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. Druw Jones homered and had four hits, including a two-run homer to lead Visalia’s 13-hit offense.
After a slow start to the season with an alarming strikeout rate, Jones, Arizona’s #3 prospect, has turned it around with a slash line 0f .326/.400/.465 in May. Over his last 49 plate appearances, Jones has walked six times against 15 strikeouts. This after whiffing 21 times in his first 31 official ABs this season.
Visalia went up 2-0 in the fourth inning on Jones’ second home run of the season, a two-run shot. Lake Elsinore came right back with four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, only to allow a five-spot to the Rawhide in the bottom half.
Rawhide RHP Denny Larrondo started with two scoreless frames but allowed the first two batters to reach base via a walk and a double. After a strikeout, a fielding error led to four unearned runs.
Among four relievers who came out of the pen for Visalia was #22 Diamondbacks prospect RHP Landon Sims. The 34th overall pick in last year’s draft, Sims had a solid 1 2/3 scoreless IP with no hits and one walk against three strikeouts.
1B Romeo Sanabria and C J.D. Gonzalez each had two hits for the Storm.
Visalia reliever Alexis Liebano (W, 1-0) pitched a scoreless inning in relief, striking out one with no hits or walks.
The two teams have split the first four games of the six-game series. Lake Elsinore (17-18) is five games back of first-place Rancho Cucamonga. Visalia (15-21) is 7 1/2 games out.
