Ventura Takes Another Day of Rest, Loses, 8-1

If the Ventura County Gulls were to play baseball by the rules of a few decades ago, they would have five fewer losses this season.

Whoever said playing on Sunday was a good idea, anyway?

An 8-1 loss to Salinas at Ventura College on Sunday kept the Gulls’ seventh-day record perfect this season: 0-5.

“I have to admit, I thought about that earlier today,” said Glenn Ezell, Ventura manager. “Before today, we lost two doubleheaders on Sundays.”

Coincidence aside, the difference in the Class-A California League game was Spurs pitcher Calvin Jones.

The 6-2 right-hander from Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five.

“That’s the best job a pitcher has done against us all year,” said Ezell, whose team had a .303 batting average going into the game. “He has a deceptive delivery and good command of three pitches. If you have that, you’re going to be very successful no matter what level you’re on.”

Jones, who didn’t have a decision in his two previous starts, needed only 93 pitches in eight innings to dispose of the foundering Gulls.

“When he throws his forkball right, he’s almost unhittable,” said Spurs Manager Greg Mahlberg. “His only problem this season has been controling it.”

He had no such problem against the Gulls, who didn’t advance a runner to third base until scoring in the ninth off relief pitcher Doug Gilver.

Jones’ effectiveness was almost matched, however, by Gulls starter Todd Stottlemyre, who allowed a single unearned run in 6 innings of work.

Stottlemyre (3-1) allowed three hits and two walks, but was the loser thanks to an error by third baseman Omar Malave that set up a run in the third inning.

Stottlemyre left the game in the seventh after allowing a walk and a single with two outs. Relief pitcher Mark Dickman got the final out of the inning on a grounder to first, but was greeted in the eighth by four consecutive singles and a double.

By the time the inning was over, Salinas had a 7-0 lead and Dickman’s earned-run average had gone from 0.00 to 6.23.

The Gulls’ only run came in the bottom of the ninth on a triple by Rob Ducey and a double by Domingo Martinez.

Martinez’ hit was actually no more than a fly ball to right fielder Bob Bruzik, but Bruzik lost the ball in the sun and it fell.

Salinas had taken an 8-0 lead in the top of the inning on a single, a walk and an RBI single by Huey McGuire.

McGuire had a two-run double in the eighth.