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Coming off a blowout win Thursday night, The Ventura County Pirates (8-11-1) (7-3Best of the West) found themselves in a shootout Friday night versus the Inland Valley Bucs. Usually when a team scores ten runs it is rare to see a negative outcome but for the Ventura County Pirates, that was the case as the Bucs came out on top by a final score of 13-10.
“Our pitching never gave us a chance to win,” said head coach George Vranau. “The first six innings of the game, their leadoff hitter got on base each inning.”
The Pirates were first to bat in this one and found themselves in an interesting spot to start the game. Of the first six batters that came to the plate, five of them reached safely via walks. This brought in two runs and the third would score by a sacrifice fly from centerfielder Dan Laughery. The Pirates scored three runs in the top of the first with zero hits.
The Offense picked up two more runs in the second thanks to a single by left fielder Ryan Camacho followed by a triple by his twin brother, right fielder Jovan Camacho. The Camacho twins showed why they bat first and second in the lineup tonight by getting on base a combined eight out of 10 times while stealing a combined seven bases.
“That’s why they’re at the top of the lineup,” said Vranau. “They’re setting the table for us so we need guys behind them to take advantage of that.”
For the Pirates bullpen, LHP flamethrower Jimmy Urban entered in relief with one out in the third. Urban minimized the damage allowing one run to score off a couple of errors behind him. The following inning Urban would strike out three batters but the Bucs would still tack on two more runs making the score 9-6 through four innings. Urban finished his night with 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER and 5 K.
The Pirates wouldn’t go away as shortstop Angelo Aleman ledoff the sixth with a single. Ryan Camacho also singled, moving him to third. Ryan would then steal second causing a throw to the shortstop which would let Aleman score.
Trailing 13-9 in the 6th, the Pirates desperately needed a pitcher to stop the bleeding. John Paul Claire entered in relief and did what no other Pirates pitcher could, he retired the leadoff batter. Claire attacked the zone inducing weak contact all around. He faced a total of six batters retiring all six and ended his night with 2 IP, 0 H and 0 ER.
The Pirates tried to build off Claire’s outing but it was simply too late in the game for the offense to get going again. The Pirates lost by a final score of 13-10 moving them to 8-11-1 on the season and 7-3 in Best of the West play.
They will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon as they’re back at home versus the Long Beach Legends at Los Angeles Valley College with first pitch scheduled for 11 AM PST. For more information visit the @vcountypirates on instagram, @vcountypirates on twitter, and @venturacountypirates on facebook.