Ventura County Loses to Bakersfield in 11 Innings

The Bakersfield Dodgers have a long way to go before they can consider themselves a pennant contender in the California League. In fact, they have a long way to go before they even reach .500.

But the Ventura County Gulls did nothing to get in their way Thursday at Ventura College, as the Dodgers completed a four-game sweep of their series with a 5-3 win in 11 innings.

Jovon Edwards’ single scored Mike Garner from third to break a 3-3 tie in the top of the 11th inning. Edwards stole second and moved to third when Gull catcher Greg Myers’ throw sailed into center field.

After William Shanks struck out Dave Carlucci, the Gulls made a pitching change, inserting Pablo Reyes. Reyes’ first pitch was a wild one, and Edwards scored.

The Gulls had their chances to win, but missed them. In the bottom of the 10th, they loaded the bases. But Jim Bishop’s fly ball to left with one out was too shallow to score the winning run. Domingo Martinez grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

In the ninth, the Gulls had runners at second and third with one out and the bases loaded with two out.

Luis Reyna led off the inning with a double, Bishop was intentionally walked and Martinez advanced the runners with a sacrifice.

But Kevin Batiste struck out and, after Eric Yelding walked to load the bases, Mike Jones flied to left to end the inning.

Bakersfield opened the scoring in the second inning. Ed Jacobo singled and took second when Bishop’s throw sailed past first baseman Martinez. Jacobo took second and scored when the next batter, Fred Gegen, doubled.

The Gulls tied the game in the bottom of the third when Martinez reached first on an error, stole second and reached third on another error. Yelding’s infield hit scored him, tying the game, 1-1.

But the Dodgers took the lead again in the fourth after loading the bases. Edwards had an RBI single and Carlucci had a sacrifice fly that put the Dodgers ahead 3-1.

The Gulls trimmed that lead in half in the bottom of the fifth. Darryl Landrum doubled and injured his shoulder at second.

Reyna pinch ran and promptly stole third. Bishop walked and stole second. After Martinez struck out, Batiste singled to make it, 3-2. But Yelding lined out to third and Jones grounded out to end the inning.

In the sixth, Santiago Garcia led off with a single and stole second. He scored on Myers’ single, but the rally was killed when Reyna popped to the catcher and Myers was doubled off first.