Pirates Surrender Lead in Loss to Inland Valley

After a double from Ventura’s second baseman Kyle Soberano led off their game against the Inland Valley Pirates, the Ventura County Pirates (6-3, 1-3 Sunset Baseball League) looked poised for another victory. Instead, the offense stalled and Ventura lost to Inland Valley 4-2 at Amerige Park in Fullerton Tuesday.

Though they fell to two games south of .500 in league contests with the loss, Ventura also showed flashes of the play that has earned them six wins overall early in the season.

Ventura scored the first man they sent to the plate. Soberano moved to third on a productive first out from extra hitter Nick Henry and was driven home by a double from shortstop Frank Garriola. Ventura, which has demonstrated an ability to score early all year, led 1-0 after an inning.

The defense executed clinical outs as well. A two-out Inland Valley single tied the game in the second, but Ventura catcher Bradley Chesterson cut off the throw home from left field and fired to second base to cut down the batter. The inning-ending play prevented the go-ahead run from reaching scoring position.

In the fourth inning, Ventura center fielder Keaton Glover gathered a single and unleashed a cannon to first baseman Jason Ajamian who applied the tag to catch the hitter making a wide turn.

Ajamian was two-for-three at the plate. He pulled Ventura within two with an RBI double in the seventh, but was thrown out trying to extend it to a triple. The next batter walked and was caught stealing as Ventura ran themselves out of the inning.

Jason Starrels allowed three runs in the third and earned the loss, but the bullpen held Inland Valley scoreless for five and two thirds innings.

The Ventura County Pirates play a non-league home game against the South Bay Sliders 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pote Field in Griffith Park.