Missed Opportunities Haunt Pacifics

16 Runners Stranded in Loss

By Vinnie Longo
July 7, 2016
Vallejo, CA -

Vallejo starter Kida De La Cruz has a wild side: the former Washington Nationals farmhand has walked more batters than he’s struck out in 2016. Holding a 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning with Kyle Adie on first and one out, De La Cruz lost command of the zone. He walked Chase Tucker and Jake Taylor back to back to load the bases, with Taylor representing the go-ahead run. For the first time this season, it looked like the Pacifics could seize the momentum of a three-game series in Vallejo. But Brent Gillespie and Maikel Jova, batting fourth and fifth respectively, failed to capitalize on the chance and stranded the bases loaded. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Vallejo (14-19) opened up the game with three more runs to take command for good, winning the game 9-4 and the series and setting the Pacifics a half game back of Sonoma in the first half standings with six games left.

“We drew 11 walks, had two batters hit by pitches, and got seven hits tonight, but we only scored four runs, which is disappointing,” said Pacifics Manager Matt Kavanaugh. “Tonight was one of those nights where the opportunity for the big hit presented itself to many different players, but the hit never landed.”

San Rafael (18-15) put runners on base in every inning, and had runners in scoring position in every inning except the second, but Vallejo’s pitching staff was able to work out of the various jams to keep the Pacifics at bay.

Vallejo took an early lead off of Celson Polanco, scoring two runs in the first and second inning to jump out ahead 4-0. The Admirals would apply pressure throughout the night, scoring in five separate innings to continue to pad their advantage. Polanco (2-3) would exit after 5.2 innings, his shortest outing in a month.

In an eerily reminiscent offensive effort to Tuesday night’s loss, the Pacifics offense only came through in one inning, when they put together a three-run third thanks to RBI singles from Taylor and Ricky Gingras and a sacrifice fly from Daniel Gonzalez. De La Cruz (1-1) would work through high-stress innings for the rest of his night, surrendering two walks to start the fifth inning before retiring the next three men in order and stranding the bases loaded in the sixth. He’d depart after six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking six, striking out seven, and hitting one batter.

The Pacifics scored their final run of the game in the ninth inning when Tucker drew a bases-loaded walk off of Vallejo closer Joe Watson. Watson walked three men and hit another in his only inning of relief. But as the chilled wind breezed through the metallic bleachers of Wilson Park, Watson induced a popup from Taylor to end the game and stranded the bases loaded again.

Errors hurt the Pacifics for the second time in three games, as the Pacifics committed three more defensive mistakes. Altogether, it was a night that was owned by the Admirals, as most games had been at Wilson Park this season. With only one game remaining in Vallejo for the rest of the year, the Pacifics will have failed to claim a road series against the Admirals in 2016.

San Rafael will continue their six-game road trip tomorrow when they start another three-game series in Pittsburg. Just two games separate the top three teams in the Pacific Association’s first half standings with six games remaining and a berth in the 2016 Championship Game on the line. The Pacifics trail the first place Sonoma Stompers by a half game, and are a game and a half ahead of Pittsburg.

First pitch for Friday’s game will be at 7:05 and live coverage can be found on the radio at pacificsbaseball.com or on Twitter by following @SRPacifics.