By: Pacifics Staff  | Brian Gump pitched well, save for a troublesome fourth inning, as the Pacifics ended a three-game skid. Photo Brandon Davis/Pacificsbaseball.com |
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MAUI — After manager Mike Marshall watched his team launch rallies that failed to get them over the hump against the Sonoma County Grapes on both Saturday and Sunday, the Pacifics found the right ingredients in 6-5 come-from-behind win over Maui Na Koa Ikaika on Tuesday night at Iron Maehara Stadium.
In another feisty ninth inning for San Rafael, Tomochika Tsuboi singled in Darrick Hale (fielder's choice) to tie the game. With an open first base, the red-hot Maikel Jova drove in Tsuboi for his league-leading 11th RBI, and what proved to be the game winning run.
The win snapped a three game losing streak for San Rafael (4-3), and helped keep starter Brian Gump out of the loss column, despite his leaving with a 5-3 deficit. Gump lasted six innings, allowed five runs, walked four and scattered seven hits in his second professional start.
After a slow start at home, Tsuboi showed signs of life in Maui going 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run — both in the decisive ninth-inning rally. Jova continued his hot start with three more hits, and is now batting .533 to lead the North American League.
Matt Soderlund made it a one-run game with a two-run blast in the sixth, his first RBIs of the season.
Julian Arballo pitched two innings in relief for the win, and Tyler Graham pitched around a ninth-inning single to earn his second save of the season.
Maui (2-5) and San Rafael square off again Wednesday. First pitch is 8:45 p.m., and you can follow the action by clicking the Listen Live button on Pacificsbaseball.com.
STARS STAY HOT
In Hilo, the Grapes were shutout in a 3-0 loss. Sonoma County's D.J. Dixon had a single (1 for 3), and has now hit safely in six of seven games this season. |
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