T-Birds blank Sox
The Yuba Sutter Gold Sox may never want to travel to Vacaville's Travis Credit Union Park again.
The Gold Sox were 0-4 at the park this season against the Solano Thunderbirds with the final loss coming Tuesday night, 2-0, in Yuba-Sutter's final road game of the season. It was a nonleague game.
The Gold Sox (36-14) were 4-6 on the road this year. They swept the San Francisco Seals in a two-game road series while splitting two-games at San Louis Obispo and Salinas.
The Gold Sox will wrap up the season this weekend with the Thunderbirds coming to Marysville for a Thursday night game and the Solano Mudcats will be at the park for the remainder of the weekend.
Yuba-Sutter starting pitcher Eric Thompson (7-2) gave up two runs in the first inning, and it was all the Thunderbirds needed.
Rance Fosdick and Bret McMillan scored after Anthony Esquer's double to deep centerfield over Kyle Maunus' head.
Other than Thompson's first inning struggles, he pitched well in the loss. He lasted six innings, giving up six hits while fanning eight and walking two. It was Thompson's first loss since May 31 against the Cenco Sultans.
He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, striking out the side for the final two outs. He faced three batters in the third and fifth innings and four in the second and sixth.
Ray Neil notched the win in five innings of work. He scattered four hits while striking out six and walking two. Cole Gasner got the save, pitching four innings and giving up four hits.
The Gold Sox left 11 stranded on base, which has been a problem all year at Solano.
Mark Steinbeck hit a double to lead off the third inning for the Gold Sox and was moved to third on Brennan Garr's single. However, Steinbeck was left stranded.
The Gold Sox left runners stranded at first and second in the fifth innings and left one at third in the sixth.
Cameron Shick led off the sixth with a double and moved to third on A.J. Valentine's bunt single. Buddy Morales then hit a ball into centerfield, and Shick tried to score but was gunned down by Fosdick.
Valentine, who has struggled at plate in Vacaville, extended his hitting streak to nine games after laying down a bunt single in the second inning.
The Appeal-Democrat Sports Department can be reached at 743-0512. You may e-mail editor Eric Vodden at eric_vodden@link.freedom.com.
