Gulls Lose to Modesto, 6-2, After Losing Two Starters

Glenn Ezell said the Ventura County Gulls’ pitching staff must become more consistent if the team is to regain top form in the California League.

The problems on the mound, the manager said, have been in part a result of promotions from Ventura to Knoxville, the team’s Double-A counterpart in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system.

“Anytime you lose two starters out of your starting rotation, it’s bound to affect the whole ball club,” Ezell said. “We still have a month to go and all of a sudden we come out one day and half of our rotation’s gone.”

The Gulls lost Jose Mesa and Jeff Musselman to Knoxville this week.

On Tuesday at Ventura College, the Gulls lost something else of importance--a 6-2 decision to the Modesto A’s.

Ventura, 12-23 in the second half, does not need to search far, however, for an understanding ear. Although Modesto is 18-20 in the second half of the season, it remains in last place in the Northern Division.

“A lot of times, when you mess up a team’s chemistry like that,” said Modesto Manager Tommie Reynolds, “it can be a big letdown for a while.”

On Tuesday, Modesto took advantage of its scoring opportunities. Three times Modesto leadoff hitters walked and each time they scored. Modesto combined for eight hits off three Gulls pitchers.

“It’s amazing how many times a guy can walk and score,” Reynolds said. “And a guy gets a base hit and doesn’t score. This ballpark here, the wind blows out of here and the ball jumps.”

Ventura had 10 hits and stranded nine runners. The Gulls scored single runs in the third and sixth innings.

With one out in the third, Kevin Batiste walked and went to second on a wild pitch by winning pitcher Russ Applegate. Batiste then scored on consecutive singles by Santiago Garcia and Eric Yelding. Garcia was 3 for 4.

Geronimo Berroa led off the sixth with a double and reached third on Greg Myers’ single to right field. With no one out, Jim Bishop hit into a double play, but Berroa scored.

Todd Provence, who is coming off a shoulder injury, took the loss for Ventura. Provence (4-7) allowed six hits and four runs while striking out five.

“You have to remember Todd was on the disabled list,” Ezell said. “This is actually what you might call his second month of the season. He hasn’t been throwing four straight months.”

Pitching help is on the way, however.

Enrique Burgos, who was released by Modesto earlier this season, and Mike Hogan, who was sent down from Knoxville, will replace Mesa and Musselman. Mesa was 10-6 at the time he was called up, while Musselman led the league in strikeouts with 165.

Burgos will start today against Modesto. In May, while pitching for Modesto, Burgos pitched against the Gulls, allowing two hits and no runs in one inning of relief.