Trio of Wins in Series for High Wheelers
Yolo look to clean sweep against the Jackalopes
Grand Junction Jackalopes
1-7
1
Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
4-2
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Davis, Ca.--Yolo High Wheelers (4-2) starting pitcher Brandon McPherson (1-0) pitched six innings and struck out six as he helped lead his club to a 4-1 win over the Grand Junction Jackalopes (1-7) on Thursday afternoon. The High Wheelers have won three straight.
McPherson is in his second Pioneer League season (Billings last year) allowed one run. The innings and strikeouts are the most by a High Wheelers pitcher this year. It's also the first win for a High Wheelers starter.
"Today McPherson set the tone," said High Wheelers manager Billy Horton. "He had an excellent start and our bullpen closed the door."
Yolo hopped on the board in the second scoring three times. The first four High Wheelers reached on walks including second baseman Kirkland Banks with a bases loaded base on balls. The other runs came on an RBI single by right fielder Justin Kirby, and a sacrifice fly by catcher Angel Mendoza. The other High Wheeler run came in the seventh on a sac fly by shortstop Bobby Lada. He has ten RBI's over the first six games.
First baseman Jose Gonzalez chipped in going 3-3 with two singles, a triple, walk, and a run scored. He's reached base safely five straight times.
The relief was strong for the second straight game. Jacob Stobart shutdown the Jackalopes in the seventh and eighth while Ty Buckner (1) earned his first professional save with a scoreless ninth.
Frank Racioppo (0-1) gave up three runs (all earned) over six innings in defeat for Grand Junction.
Game four of this series is tomorrow at Dobbins Stadium with a 4:30 p.m. first pitch. Left-hander Brandon Ross (0-1) will start for Grand Junction against Yolo righty Shaun Gamelin (NR). It'll be Gamelin's professional debut.
HIGH NOTES
Center fielder Brayland Skinner had his five-game hitting streak snapped, he was 0-4
First baseman Sam Kuchinski walked in the second extending his on-base streak to six
Banks has reached base safely in all six games
Lada has been on base safely nine times in 14 plate appearances in this series. "Bobby is an exciting player and is putting pressure on the defense," said Horton. "He has been getting on base a ton."
It was the second six strikeout performance by a High Wheeler as J.C. Ariza fanned six in game two of a doubleheader last Sunday against Rocky Mountain