Landrum Slams Gulls Past Fresno, 6-3

Darryl Landrum may play in the Class-A California League but since returning to the lineup from a hand injury in May, he’s been stuck in a major league slump.

“Darryl has had problems,” said Glenn Ezell, his manager on the Ventura County Gulls. “He hasn’t been real selective at the plate, and hasn’t really come back nearly as well as I’d hoped after that injury that he had.”

On Friday at Ventura College, however, Landrum recuperated enough to hit a grand slam and lead the Gulls past the Fresno Giants in a California League game, 6-3.

“I can feel it coming back,” Landrum said. “I’m making more contact than when I was at first. I was getting a lot of strikeouts. I’m seeing the ball better. I thought it had a chance to go out, but I didn’t know I hit it that hard.”

Landrum’s 15th home run came in the third inning after Geronimo Berroa singled, and Greg Myers and James Bishop walked to load the bases.

Landrum, normally a designated hitter, played right field Friday in place of Luis Reyna.

“I think anybody who is young and not accustomed to really getting themselves keyed up for one at-bat at a time plays better whenever they’re in the field,” Ezell said. “To be a good DH, I think you learn to do that.

“Both he and Luis, I’m going to give them a few days out, a few days in. I’m going to give them both a chance to play in the field.”

Ventura’s Mark Dickman (6-4) pitched 6 innings, holding the Giants to three runs on six hits and was removed from the game when his first walk loaded the bases in the seventh. Ezell gave Dickman’s performance a mixed review.

“We needed six good strong innings and he supplied them for us,” Ezell said. “I think he got himself in trouble by walking that last hitter. Especially after being ahead of him in the count.”

Mike Hogan relieved Dickman with the bases loaded and yielded a double by Scott Thompson that scored Romy Cucjen and Gary Jones for the last two Fresno runs. Thompson scored the Giants only other run in the sixth on a single, a stolen base, an error and T.J. McDonald’s sacrifice fly.

The Gulls completed their scoring with two runs in the sixth. Domingo Martinez led off with a home run to left field. Kevin Batiste then reached first on a error by shortstop Tony Perezchica, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. He then scored on Eric Yelding’s sacrifice fly.