.png)
VALLEY GLEN, CA – A trio of long bombs were key as the Ventura County Pirates defeated the Long Beach Legends by a 10-5 score, winning the season series three games to two.
Things looked troubling early on, as the Legends put up two runs in the top of the first before starter Derek Potts found his groove. Those were the only two runs he would allow in his four innings of work, in which he only allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts.
The fears were short-lived, though, as Darren Taylor tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, followed by Jacob Ortega scoring an unearned run on an Ian McIntyre RBI. Grant Schoen, who trotted home via Taylor’s homer, would score again in the third along with Taylor again, as they raced to the plate on Johnny Pacheco’s two-RBI double.
The Pirates’ bats cooled off for the next four innings, though, and Potts would end up with no pitching decision as the Legends tied the game at 5-5 with a three-run sixth inning. Eric Crouse entered the game in relief, and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and a walk, striking out two Long Beach batters. The Ventura County offense finally reignited in the bottom of the eighth, as Darren Taylor would belt another home run over the wall, scoring Shoen and himself for the third time each to take a 7-5 lead.
Back to back two-out singles by Johnny Pacheco and Andrew Tovar sent Jason Ajamian to the plate, who cranked a 1-0 pitch over the fence for a three-run home run, padding the lead to 10-5. Crouse and the defense then retired the Legends in order in the ninth to seal the win.
The Pirates close out the regular season Sunday at LA Valley College, looking for the season sweep against the SoCal Shepherds. First pitch is set for 11:00 AM.