Marysville outfielder Joe Starick hits his seventh home run of the season on Friday, June 28, in the Drakes’ 15-4 win against Vallejo.

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Marysville Drakes capped off their final four-game road trip of the year as they went 3-1 and swept the Bakersfield Train Robbers in three games from Monday, June 24, through Wednesday, June 26.

The Bakersfield series had importance due to the Train Robbers holding the second spot in the Pacific Division standings by a few games over Marysville.

 Marysville catcher Sean Connolly fields a bunt and throws it to first base in the Drakes’ 15-4 victory against Vallejo on Friday, June 28.

The Drakes were swept by Bakersfield in a three-game series during the second week of the season and had a horrific 3-10 road record heading into the past trip.

Marysville took care of the Train Robbers thanks to late-game heroics and extra-base hits. In the series opener on June 24, Drakes’ catcher Sean Connolly hit his first home run of the season for a three-run shot in the eighth inning to take the lead. 

 Marysville infielder Anders Green hits an RBI double in the eighth inning to give the Drakes the lead in the win over Vallejo on Friday, June 28.

The Marysville defense and pitching held up for six outs to take the first game of the series. In the second game of the series, Drakes’ pitcher Earl Johnson Jr. pitched a quality start as he tossed seven innings, surrendered two runs and seven hits, and struck out eight.

The game was deadlocked at two from the fifth inning until the top of the tenth where late-game heroics favored Marysville again as shortstop Josh Leslie hit a three-run blast to give the Drakes a late lead for the second consecutive night.

 Marysville outfielder Joe Starick makes a sliding catch in the outfield during the Drakes’ 15-4 win against Vallejo on Friday, June 28.

Marysville pitcher Garrett Mos relieved Johnson Jr. in the eighth and controlled the Bakersfield lineup as he pitched three scoreless innings to seal up the first time of the year that the Drakes’ have won consecutive road games.

In the third and final game of the Train Robbers’ series, emotions were taken too far by a couple members of both teams. Marysville manager Bill Rogan expressed to the Dispatch that he believed the Bakersfield manager was a “sore loser,” and disagreed with certain actions he displayed in the finale.

 Marysville infielder Josh Leslie swings at a pitch in the Drakes’ 15-4 victory against Vallejo on Friday, June 28.

“It put a sour taste in my mouth. I’m glad we won the three games and came up in big situations,” Rogan said.

Leslie hit a two-run single in the top of the 10th inning to give the Drakes their third consecutive late-inning victory.

 Marysville shortstop Josh Leslie steps on second base and throws the ball to first to turn a double play in the Drakes’ 15-4 win over Vallejo on Friday, June 28.

Leslie expressed to the Dispatch that no matter what the score was during the game, it wasn’t over until the 27 outs in a regular game were recorded.

Although Marysville gained significant ground on Bakersfield with the sweep, they gave a little back as they lost against the Vallejo Seaweed to round out the road trip on June 27 in an 8-7 defeat.

Rogan told the Dispatch that they just had late momentum again, but it was too late. The Drakes hosted Vallejo the following night and kept up with the theme of late inning fun.

Marysville was down to their final six outs and down one prior to exploding for a 12-run eighth inning that featured a couple of three-run home runs by infielder Declan Peterson and outfielder Joe Starick.

Drakes’ infielder Anders Green led the night with five runs-batted-in (RBI’s), including four doubles, and he hit the go-ahead RBI double in the eighth.

Green told the Dispatch that they were in a good rhythm, and peaking at the right time of the year would be a huge thing. He added that the Bakersfield series was big in the sense they won close games late and came together.

Rogan expressed he was happy with a solid performance from everyone in the game. Marysville pitcher AJ Cordova pitched six innings giving up four runs from seven hits as he struck out five batters.

Rogan added that the one thing he could always count on from his players was the effort night in and out that they brought to the ballpark.

The Drakes ended the week with a solid 10-3 victory over Martinez to end the week 5-1 and the month of June with a 16-8 record. 

Marysville has 22 games in July to finish off the regular season prior to their first game this past Tuesday, July 2.

The Drakes hit the road nine more times compared to their 13 remaining home games at Bryant field where they have been successful.

Marysville has the most remaining games of the year against Dublin and San Rafael with six games against both teams. The Drakes will see Bakersfield and Vallejo the least as there are only three matchups between both of those teams remaining.

Rogan told the Dispatch he wanted to see his team finish the year strong and continue the good momentum to eventually make the playoffs for the first time this season.

 Marysville pitcher AJ Cordova throws a pitch during the Drakes’ win over Vallejo on Saturday, June 28. Cordova pitched six innings in the 15-4 win.