Bruzik’s RBI Single in the 9th Leads Salinas Past Ventura, 3-2

Bob Bruzik’s third run batted in of the game drove home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Salinas Spurs a 3-2 California League victory at home Tuesday night over the Ventura County Gulls.

Bruzik lined a base hit to left field on a 3-0 pitch from William Shanks, the Gulls’ fourth pitcher of the night, to score Rennie Brown from third base with one out in the ninth. Brown had walked, was sacrificed to second and took third on Omar Malave’s error at third base before trotting home with the winning run.

Bruzik accounted for the Spurs’ other two runs with a pair of run-scoring fly balls, driving home Tom Krause from third base in the first and third innings. Pitchers Calvin Jones and Darrell Higgs made the runs stand up, stopping the Gulls on seven hits. Jones worked seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and three walks, while striking out 10. Higgs (5-1) picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over the final two innings.

Trailing 2-0, the Gulls cut the lead in the half in the fifth. Eric Yelding reached first on a force out, was balked to second and scored on a single to left by Mike Jones.

Ventura County tied the score in the eighth. Santiago Garcia singled into the hole at shortstop and advanced to second on a walk to Luis Reyna, who was picked off first. But Geronimo Berroa followed with a single to left that scored Garcia.

Mark Dickman pitched the first six innings for the Gulls, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks. Mike Hogan pitched into the ninth, giving way to Pablo Reyes, who pitched to one batter before giving way to Shanks.