Vigilantes Kick Away Game, Winning Streak

The Vigilantes, thanks mostly to sloppy defense, gave away the game and their winning streak Thursday night in a Western League baseball game in Salinas.

The Vigilantes made four errors that led to four unearned runs in a 7-2 loss in front of an announced crowd of 950 in Salinas. The loss ended a three-game winning streak by the Vigilantes (18-25).

Salinas (21-21) scored three unearned runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The first two came across on a throwing error by catcher Mike Cowell and the final run scored when right fielder Sam Taylor dropped a routine flyball.

Salinas got three more in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Kraig Constantino had a run-scoring groundout for a 4-1 lead and Brian Kooiman doubled in the final two of the inning.

Mission Viejo got single runs in the first and fifth. Sean Drinkwater doubled and scored on two-out single by Alan Burke in the first. Bret Barberie then doubled, but Corey Parker fouled out to the catcher to end the inning.

Sam Taylor had a two-out triple and scored on Burke’s double in the fifth but Barberie popped up to end the threat.

Mark Draeger (3-1) gave up six hits and six runs, only two of which were earned, in six innings but took the loss.

Wally Ritchie (7-2) gave up eight hits and two runs in six innings to get the victory.