Brilinski Takes Gulls Apart With 2 Homers, 8 RBIs

Tyler Brilinski of the Modesto A’s nearly single-handedly defeated the Ventura County Gulls on Saturday night, driving in eight runs to lead the A’s to a 17-7 California League victory at Modesto.

Brilinski, Modesto’s designated hitter, hit two home runs and a double as part of a 5-for-5 night. Big nights in Modesto are nothing new for Brilinski, who was hitting .360 with a .760 slugging percentage at home going into the game. He hit a grand slam and a three-run home run to give him 24 this season.

The A’s had 18 hits off three Gulls’ pitchers, and Ventura County contributed 16 hits. Reserve catcher Scott deMarrias was the only Gull in the lineup to go without a hit.

Gulls starting pitcher Mark Dickman (6-5) lasted only 1 innings, giving up seven earned runs before being pulled in the second inning. Modesto’s Felix Jose capped the inning with a three-run home run, his first of two in the game.

Despite giving up 13 hits in seven innings, Mark Tortrice (4-4) picked up the win for Modesto.

The loss wasted a strong game for Ventura catcher Greg Myers, who was 3 for 3, including his 20th home run of the season and second in two nights.

After Modesto jumped out to a 7-1 lead, the Gulls clawed back with single runs in the third and fourth to cut the lead to 7-3. But the A’s struck for three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to build a 10-3 advantage. Leading 11-4 after six innings, Modesto put together a five-run seventh for a 15-3 lead that turned the game into a rout.

Modesto’s 17 runs do not represent the most scored against the Gulls this season. Stockton owns that distinction with a 20-7 win late last month.