For one night while the Rawhide played the Colorado Rockies affiliate, Rawhide Ballpark played like it was Coors Field. Marty Herum drove home a season-high five runs for the Rawhide and Daniel Lockhart had the go-ahead bases-loaded hit for the second time in the last four games as the Rawhide erased a 7-2 deficit in the fifth inning to defeat Lancaster 9-8.
Lancaster (12-16) plated four runs in the first inning against Visalia starter Justin Donatella. Donatella would settle down in the second and third innings, but would allow three more unearned runs in the fourth, which chased him from the ballgame. Keegan Long (W, 1-0) delivered three shutout innings of relief to set up Visalia (16-12) for the win.
Herum cleared the bases with a double down the right field line in the last of the fifth inning and Lockhart brought home the go-ahead run in the seventh with a single through the right side. Jason Morozowski also drove home a run and had three more hits with two more runs scored. Morozowski now has seven hits in his last twelve at bats. Grant Heyman drove in a run for the Rawhide in the seventh to give the Rawhide a run of insurance.
Mason McCullough struck out the side in a perfect eighth and Bud Jeter (SV, 9) held the lead in ninth inning despite allowing a run to earn the save.
The five-run comeback is the largest for the Rawhide this year, and is the second time they’ve erased a deficit against Lancaster this season. Visalia also plated nine runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the JetHawks on April 7. This was the seventh blown save in 12 opportunities for the Lancaster bullpen this season.
The Rawhide will continue four game series with Lancaster tomorrow. First pitch will be at 7 PM and will match up Visalia’s RHP Joel Payamps and Lancaster’s RHP Jesus Tinoco. It will be Mental Health Awareness Night at Rawhide Ballpark presented by TCHHSA. The Rawhide will wear turquoise uniforms and there will be postgame fireworks as it is a Firework Friday. Tickets are still available, but are going quickly, at rawhidebaseball.com.