Pirate starting pitcher Blake Campbell threw 6.2 scoreless innings on Thursday as VC built a 6-0 lead over Santa Barbara before a Vaquero rally in the ninth inning fell short in Ventura's 6-5 victory at Pirate Park. The sophomore hurler allowed just three hits and struck out three in picking up the win. Jacob Martinez had two hits with two runs batted while scoring a run and Adrian Sandoval had a two-RBI double to lead Ventura (7-11, 2-6) at the plate.
The Pirates were dominant for the first eight innings of the game behind Campbell and reliever Noah Bullard, who struck out three of the four batters he faced.
Ventura took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Hunter Klingelhoffer blasted a lead-off double, and went to third on Omar Gastelum's single. Gastelum then stole second, and the pair scored on Martinez's two-out, two-RBI single.
A two-out rally that scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning broke the game open for the Pirates. Jacob Harris was hit by a pitch with one out, and after the second out, Martinez singled. Sandoval followed with a two-run double and Vaala was next, reaching base on an error that scored Sandoval. Tommy Gibbons-Matsuyama then knocked a single, and Vaala scored on Gabe Baldovino's single for the 6-0 score.
A pair of walks led to a Santa Barbara rally in the ninth inning as the Vaqueros plated five runs before JuanCarlos Rodarte finally struck out the final batter.
The Pirates will play the rubber game of their three game set with the Vaqueros Saturday March 7 at Santa Barbara's Pershing Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.