Ventura designated hitter Casey Turturici was 2-4 with a home run and a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in to lead the Pirate baseball team to its fourth consecutive win, 9-3 over Santa Barbara Tuesday at Pirate Park. JR Godinez and KJ Moo-Young scored two runs each as VC (9-11, 4-3) used a six-run fifth inning to put the game away. Jake Read threw six complete innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out five to pick up the win on the mound.
The Pirates got on the board in the bottom of the second when Turturici led off the inning with a solo shot over the right field fence.
After the Vaqueros scored once in the top of the third, Ventura plated two more runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Nick Schnopp led off the inning with a double and Moo-Young was hit by a pitch. JR Godinez's sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in a force-out at third before Reiss Calvin walked to load the bases. All three runners move dup 90 feet on a passed ball, with moo-Young scoring before John Oleson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Godinez.
Ventura put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Moo-Young drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second base. After Moo-Young advanced to third on a wild pitch, Godinez drew a walk, moving to scoring position on a passed ball. Calvin followed with an RBI single, and Oleson reached base on an error that scored Godinez. Turturici then doubled to score Calvin, and Ramon Torres singled to plate Oleson. Andrew Savage and Julien Monks kept the line moving with RBI singles and VC led 9-1 after five innings of play.
SBCC scored twice in the top of the seventh, but they were unable to mount any kind of comeback effort after that inning.
Sebastian Garcia pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Robby Keister pitched the top of the ninth to close the door on the Vaqueros.
The two teams continue their three-game series on Thursday March 10 in Santa Barbara.