The Visalia Rawhide lost to the Stockton Ports 5-4 on September 3, 2026, in a walk-off game at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia, California. Despite a strong rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Rawhide were unable to complete the comeback.
Visalia trailed 5-2 in the eighth inning before rallying with two runs. Jack Spanier singled, and Jake Duer drove in a run with a double to right field. Victor Santana followed with an RBI single to center field but was left stranded on base, ending the inning. In the ninth, Pedro Blanco reached base following a strikeout and wild pitch, putting the winning run in scoring position, but a groundout ended the game.
Victor Santana led the Rawhide offense with two hits and two RBIs. Weber Neels added two doubles to his impressive start to professional baseball, totaling nine doubles and 12 extra-base hits in his first 10 games.
On the mound, Mervin Fell started for Visalia, pitching four innings and allowing two earned runs with five strikeouts. Fell finished the 2026 season leading the team with 98 strikeouts. Kelvin Rosario made his Valley Strong Ballpark debut, throwing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Samuel Gonzalez also contributed, pitching a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
The Rawhide maintained a 2-1 lead in the series with the Ports. The teams will meet again on September 4 at Valley Strong Ballpark for the series continuation, featuring a “Cars Night” promotion and a “Four Pack Friday” ticket offer.
CSB Take
Although the Visalia Rawhide fell in a narrow walk-off loss, their late-inning rally demonstrated resilience and potential. Standout offensive performances by Victor Santana and Weber Neels, along with strong pitching from key arms, indicate promising development in the squad. Holding the series lead provides momentum heading into the final home games, where fan engagement and team initiatives may boost the Rawhide’s performance closing out the 2026 season.
Source: Original report
