Gold Sox road woes remain
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - The Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox last two trips to Travis Credit Union Park in Vacaville have been anything but enjoyable.
The Gold Sox dropped a 14-1 decision to the Solano Thunderbirds on July 6, their worst loss in team history, and didn't fair much better Tuesday night.
The Thunderbirds scored five runs in the third inning and held the Gold Sox to just six hits for a 8-1 victory in the Horizon Air Summer Series.
The Gold Sox (26-10, 22-7) surrendered their McCullough Division lead to the Thunderbirds (23-6), who came in trailing by a half game and now lead the division by a half game. Solano will visit All Seasons RV Stadium Thursday in a division game.
It was the Gold Sox third loss in four tries at Solano this season and ninth loss in 11 tries all time. The Gold Sox are just 1-4 on the road this year with three more game remaining, two at Salinas next week and another in Solano on Aug. 2.
The Gold Sox have been outscored 44-17 on the road.
Kody Keroher (4-2) took the loss, pitching 31/3 innings, allowing five runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three.
Keroher cruised through the first two innings, facing the minimum, but walked two to start the third. One of those walks scored on a single and another came home on an error by third baseman Doug Thennis. Blane Boss hit a two-RBI double, and Keroher was pulled two batters later after loading the bases.
Wes Porter relieved Keroher and walked home the Thunderbirds' fifth run.
The Thunderbirds scored two runs off Porter in the seventh. Chris Negron hit a triple and scored on Boss' second hit of the game. Ashley doubled to the wall in right, bringing home Boss.
Steve Alverson pitched the eighth, allowing the Thunderbirds' final run.
The Gold Sox took a brief 1-0 lead in the second, starter Logan Murphy's worst inning.
Murphy allowed a single to Thennis with one out, and Matt Suleski's hit into left was botched for an error, sending Thennis to third and Suleski to second. Murphy then walked Billy Sinacori and Jonny Norfolk, forcing Thennis home.
Murphy pitched five innings, allowing four hits on a run. Jason Breckley relieved Murphy, allowing two hits.
The Gold Sox had a chance to push at least one more run across with Matt Suleski at third and two out in the sixth inning. Suleski doubled down the line in right and moved to third on a wild pitch from Breckley.
Billy Sinacori was hit by Breckley to reach and stole second, prompting Gold Sox manager Brad Peek to send Suleski home with catcher Anthony Escquer trying to throw out Sinacori. However, Suleski was gunned down at the plate, ending the inning.
The Gold Sox stranded eight runners, including at second and third in the ninth.
Notes: The Gold Sox will host the Oakland Eagles for a three-game series starting on Friday. The Gold Sox dropped a 13-5 decision at Oakland on June 21 and swept a three-game series five days later.
The Appeal-Democrat sports department can be reached by calling 743-0512 or by e-mailing Todd Hansen at thansen@appealdemocrat.com or Justin Miller at jmiller@appealdemocrat.com
