San Diego southpaw silences Gold Sox

Whatever firepower the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox had in their bats Friday didn't transfer over to Saturday night's game at All Seasons RV Stadium.

One night after a massive offensive output saw them ring up 12 runs on 12 hits, the Gold Sox offense struggled to get anything going Saturday, as they dropped the third and final game of a three-game series to the San Diego Stars, 7-4.

Through eight innings, the Gold Sox were only able to produce two runs off of three hits. However, Yuba-Sutter was able to make things interesting in the ninth by pushing two more runs across to go along with three hits, but to no avail.

The Stars had the exact opposite result — timely hitting. San Diego crushed Gold Sox pitching for seven earned runs on 12 hits.

Gold Sox manager Jack Johnson said San Diego played with a lot more intensity than his team, but was not too discouraged by the loss.

"I thought they came out not wanting to get swept and they took it to us early," Johnson said. "They came out hungry."

Gold Sox starting pitcher Dan Huff was roughed up by the Stars in 21⁄3 innings of work. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits.

Huff had trouble finding his command early, walking and hitting his first two batters. Two of the five runners who came around to score against him reached by a walk.

Huff walked four batters and hit one.

"(Huff) kept the ball up and didn't have command of his fastball early," Johnson said. "He had to throw a lot of strikes and they have some experienced hitters who took advantage of it."

Perhaps the most experienced player on San Diego's roster was its starter, left-hander Pete Malloy, who is 27 years old.

Malloy kept Gold Sox hitters off-balance all night with a good mix of off-speed pitches to compliment his fastball. Malloy was not overpowering, but with a Jamie Moyer-esque approach was able to scatter the Gold Sox's seven hits to pick up a complete-game win.

Only two of the four runs Malloy gave up were earned. He struck out five batters and walked one.

"We threw all of our pitchers (earlier in the series) so I figured I would have to go nine," Malloy said. "I'm kind of an old guy compared to all these kids."

Malloy said he just tried to throw strikes and use his defense. The last time Malloy pitched collegiately was eight years ago at Grossmont College in San Diego.

"I just had to block out the crowd and throw strikes," Malloy said. "They say I got a rubber arm. I don't throw hard, but I just spot my (stuff)."

Gold Sox third baseman Bret Ringer was one of the few bright spots. He finished the night 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

"(Malloy) was able to get some off-speed pitches early in the count by us," Ringer said. "We just made adjustments too late it looked like.

"Sometimes you're going to be hot, and sometimes you're going to be cold," Ringer added. "They came out swinging and got us down early and we weren't able to come back from it."

Last season's Horizon Air Summer Series Pitcher of the Year Grayson Adams will make his first start of the summer tonight as the Gold Sox wrap up the weekend against the California Cobras.

The Gold Sox edged out the Cobras 3-2 last weekend.

Adams just joined the team this weekend after competing with the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament.

STARS 7, GOLD SOX 4
WP: Pete Malloy (1-0)
LP: Dan Huff (2-1)
Next: Today, 7 p.m., California Cobras at All Seasons RV Stadium
Radio: KUBA (1600 AM, 95.5 FM)

Contact sports reporter Jimmy Graben at 749-4720 or at jgraben@appealdemocrat.com