SLO BLUES 7 v. SMV Packers 6 - 10 Innings
The San Luis Obispo Blues (23-9, 14-8) won their ten-inning contest in dramatic fashion Monday night against the visiting Santa Maria Valley Packers (18-16) 7-6.
Trailing the Blues 5-6 heading into the ninth inning, the Packers tied the game on Dalton Rouleau's RBI double scoring right fielder Taylor Gilliam. After stranding the winning run on third in the bottom of the ninth, the Blues offense came through in the tenth when catcher Thomas Bernal's two-out line drive to center field scored right fielder Max Homick from second base. The win marked the second time this season the Blues have defeated the Packers in walk-off fashion at Sinsheimer Stadium this season.
The Blues offense got off to a hot start with shortstop Chad Christensen's 430 foot home run off the scoreboard making the score 2-0 after the first. Christensen now leads the team in home runs with three on the season. Center fielder Brandon Wood added a solo shot in the second for his first home run of the season. Wood finished the game with two hits and a run scored. Other Blues having good nights at the plate include second baseman Adam Frazier, who went 2-2 with two runs scored, and third baseman Austin Flores, who stole his fifth base of the season and scored a run in the seventh inning.
Right-hander Vince Wheeland (2-0) earned the win after pitching the final two innings. Wheeland allowed one earned run and struck out two Packers. Relievers Lars Ligouri (1-1) and Paul Twining (0-0) also had strong outings in relief of starter Jason Freeman (3-0), combining for 4.1 scoreless innings with only three hits and one walk allowed. Ligouri and Twining each had one strikeout.
The Blues have twelve players representing San Luis Obispo at the California Collegiate League All-Star Game Wednesday night at 6 PM at Glendale, CA's Casey Stengel Field. The game is televised and can be seen on Fox Sports West.
The Blues open their "second half" with a pivotal game against Central Coast rivals Santa Barbara Foresters (24-8, 16-8) Thursday night at 6PM at San Luis Obispo's Sinsheimer Stadium.
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