By Daniel Barrera
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Vallejo Admirals continued to struggle at Albert Park, losing to the San Rafael Pacifics 3-2 by way of a walk-off error in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Admirals once again got a strong start from Roman Gomez and led most of the game but came up short to fall five games behind San Rafael in the second half standings.
Alian Silva led off the game with a single and was moved over to third base after Darian Sanford followed with a single of his own. A sacrifice fly by Tim Williams scored Silva from third, giving starter Roman Gomez a 1-0 lead before he even took the mound.
Gomez was in command most of the game, only surrendering one run in the third inning as Mark Lindsay led off the bottom half of the inning with a hard double off the left field wall that came within feet of being a solo home run. After advancing to third base on a ground out Lindsay was then driven in by an RBI single from Zack Pace to tie the game.Gomez did not surrender another run in the contest as he pitched seven innings allowing only the one earned run while striking out four batters.
Vallejo regained the lead on another run scored by Alian Silva, who walked to lead off the top half of the sixth inning. After a Darian Sandford strikeout Joe Hicks followed with a double that moved Silva 90 feet away from home. Tim Williams followed with an RBI single that scored Silva giving the Admirals a 2-1 advantage.
It looked like San Rafael starter Patrick Barnett was going to be the tough luck loser of the night, surrendering two runs and giving up five hits in eight innings of work, however the Pacifics were able to score two runs against Admirals reliever Josh Evans in the last two innings to take the game.
Evans came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth and walked the second batter he faced, Chase Tucker. Tucker went to third base on a single by Jake Taylor before being knocked in on a fielder’s choice grounder from Brent Gillespie that tied the game going into the ninth inning.
With the score tied 2-2, J.R. Bunda, the San Rafael closer, came out to start the ninth. The Admirals could not capitalize on a double by Lydell Moseby stranding him at second, unable to plate a run against the reliever. In the bottom of the inning Evans was able to strike out Garrett Gemgnani but then gave up a double to the next batter, San Rafael shortstop Daniel Gonzalez.
Mark Lindsay followed with a walk before Johnny Bekakis came up to the plate and hit what looked to be an inning ending double play ball to new Admiral Vladimir Gomez at shortstop. Gomez could not handle the grounder though and Gonzalez scored from second base on the error, ending the game instead of the inning. The Admirals will have to get over the tough loss quickly, as they try to avoid a sweep in San Rafael with game three of the series set for a 1:05 p.m. start time at Albert Park.
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