Derke is Traded to Wichita, Then Admirals Fall 5-3 at Napa

VALLEJO, CALIF. – Under “Spare the Air” skies at Napa Valley College, the Admirals fell 5-3 to the Napa Silverados on Saturday evening. After the game, the Admirals traded first baseman Graylin Derke to the American Association’s Wichita Wingnuts for future considerations. Derke’s 37 runs batted in were leading the Pacific Association in that category.

The contest boiled down to a home-run derby of sorts, as the Silverados’ four solo homers outdid the Admirals’ pair of one-run jacks. Ray Jones homered twice for Napa, and Josh Montelongo and Kai Davis each left the yard once against Admirals starter Frank Valentino. Valentino took another befuddling loss, despite going seven innings and striking out a career-high 11 Silverados in the process. Alex Fishberg backed up Valentino with a clean eighth in relief.

Tillman Pugh led off the day with a home run for the Admirals, and Rian Kiniry added the other in the third inning. Napa starter Tyler Sharp picked up the win, allowing the Admirals’ three runs over five innings. Devontae Glenn and Chris Butcher worked a perfect inning apiece, and Deivy Mendez, who earned the relief victory when these teams met here 13 days ago, notched the save by throwing the final two innings.