Gulls Come Up Short Against San Jose, 4-2

A ninth-inning rally by the Ventura County Gulls fell just short against the San Jose Bees on Wednesday night, resulting in a 4-2 California League loss for Ventura to former major leaguer Vern Ruhle at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Ruhle pitched his second complete game of the year against the Gulls, improving his record to 2-1. Jose Mesa (7-3) took the loss for the Gulls.

The Gulls trailed, 4-0, going into the ninth inning when the team mounted a rally. Santiago Garcia doubled to open the inning, but Darryl Landrum flied to left and Greg Myers grounded to first bringing the Gulls to their final out of the game. Geronimo Berroa then doubled home Garcia, making the score, 4-1, and Domingo Martinez followed with a single to score Berroa, cutting San Jose’s lead to two.

Jim Bishop reached first on a error by third baseman Kevin Christman, putting the tying runs on base and the go-ahead run at the plate. Designated hitter Mike Jones grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

In the second inning, former Angel Daryl Sconiers hit his second home of the season to put the Bees ahead, 1-0.

The Bees struck again in the fifth. With one out, leadoff hitter Mickey Yamano walked. He then moved to second on a single by teammate Shawn Barton. Former Kennedy High star Dave Oliva then singled in San Jose’s second run with Barton stopping at second. Nori Tanabe then doubled both of them home, putting San Jose up 4-0.

Barton finished the game with three singles to spark the seven-hit San Jose attack off two Ventura pitchers. Mesa worked six innings, allowing six hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts. He allowed all four San Jose runs.

Mark Dickman worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one.

Ruhle was in command until the ninth inning, allowing no walks and striking out five Gulls.

Gulls Notes

Mike Norris, the former Oakland A’s pitcher released by the San Jose Bees in April, will be re-signed by San Jose Friday. Norris will start the same day against the Palm Springs Angels, according to Harry Steve, president and owner of the Bees. “We’re doing each other a favor,” Steve said. “He’s going to win games for us, and we’re giving him the opportunity to pitch.” Steve said that Norris, who has been arrested on charges of cocaine possession and driving under the influence, will be subject to random drug testing. . . . When the Bees visited Ventura County two weeks ago, pitcher Mark Bauer had expressed displeasure that Steve would not release him from his contract to sign with a Pittsburgh Pirate Double-A team. “It was my big chance,” Bauer had said. Steve replied that the Pirates would not pay San Jose as little as $1,000 for the right to sign Bauer. “I tried to get $5,000 and they wouldn’t pay,” Steve said. “I tried to get $1,000 and they wouldn’t pay. They wouldn’t even give me a pitcher in return. I’d be out of business if I gave players away. It wouldn’t have been fair to my team to give away my best pitcher.” Bauer, 23, is 3-0 with a 2.61 earned-run average. . . . Infielder Sandy Guerrero, who was second on the Gulls in batting (.333), was traded by Toronto to the Milwaukee Brewer organization.