Visalia Scores 4-2 Win Over Gulls

night after being no-hit, the Visalia Oaks jumped on Ventura County Gulls pitcher Hugh Brinson for five hits in the first two innings and went on to defeat the Gulls, 4-2, on Wednesday night at Recreation Park.

The Oaks, who lead the California League’s Southern Division by three games, did not get a hit against two Ventura pitchers Tuesday, but wasted little time getting started Wednesday.

Visalia trailed, 1-0, entering the bottom of the first but got a leadoff single from Tom Thomas. Jeff Reboulet and Gary Borg followed with singles to score Thomas. Tom Schwarz then hit into a double play to score Reboulet and give Visalia a 2-1 lead.

Brinson, whose record fell to 10-7, encountered more problems in the bottom of the second. Chris Forgione and Kevin Wiggins hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning for a 3-1 Visalia lead.

Brinson lasted only 4 innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs. He walked four, while striking out one.

Visalia got its final run in the sixth against Pablo Reyes. Henry Gatewood began the inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Joey Aragon.

Ventura’s runs came in the first and third innings.

With one out in the first, Omar Malave walked. An out later, Geronimo Berroa walked and Greg Myers followed with an run-scoring single to right field.

In the third, Luis Reyna walked with two outs, stole second and scored on Berroa’s RBI double.

Ventura County Manager Glenn Ezell was ejected in the top of the sixth inning for arguing a call. In the seventh, Gulls’ center fielder Kevin Batiste was kicked out for arguing a called third strike.

Al Cardwood (11-6) gave up three hits in 5 innings for Visalia, picking up his fifth straight win. Wes Pierorazio worked the final 1 innings for his 13th save.

The defeat dropped the Gulls 17 1/2 games behind Visalia in the second half with less than two weeks left in the season. The Gulls’ last game is scheduled for Aug. 31, a doubleheader at Palm Springs.