5/29/2022-The San Rafael Pacifics won their home opener Sunday night in a high scoring affair beating the Martinez Sturgeons 10-7. The Pacifics now move to 3-0 to start the 2022 season.

The bats for the Pacifics got going early. After finding themselves down by a run in the first inning, lead-off hitter Jahilil Marinez hit a ground rule double off Stuergons pitcher and former professional pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, Manny Corpas.

With an out on the board, shortstop Corey Davis Jr. knocked a single past the second baseman to score Marinez and tie the game. San Rafael tacked on three more runs in the first inning with a double by centerfielder Tyson Thompson scoring two runs and a single by catcher Jonathan Waite, which scored Thompson and gave the Pacifics a 4-1 lead.

The starting pitcher for the Pacifics, Kohoto Hasgawa early on found himself behind in the count, forcing him to throw strikes down the middle that Martinez was able to take advantage of. The Sturgeons responded with a four run inning in the second.

With the Pacifics down 5-4 in the bottom of the third, rightfielder John Bicos hit a solo shot to left field, knotting the score at five.

"He was throwing a lot of off-speed and I was expecting it,c said Bicos after the game, "the pitch came and I got to hit it out."

Pitchers for both Martinez and San Rafael started to settle in as the game approached the middle innings. While Martinez stuck with Corpas, the Pacifics turned to their bullpen in the top of the fifth with Eric Parnow and then reliever John Murray took over in the sixth. Although both pitchers were missing at times, their ability to fight back in the count kept the Sturgeons off-balance.

Murray ran into some trouble in the seventh inning. After walking a batter, Sturgeon first baseman Rafael Rameriez ripped a two run home run giving them a 7-5 lead.

The Pacifics did not let this get to them. In the top of the seventh, San Rafael took advantage of Corpas, who had already thrown 113 pitches up to this point. He did not have the same velocity or break on his pitches that he had earlier in the game.

The Pacifcs loaded the bases with one out. Manager and thirdbaseman Kyle Ulanday hit a bloop double down the right field line that cleared the bases and gave the Pacifics the lead, 8-7.

"I was trying to put the ball in play and do anything to help my team win," said Ulandy. "That pitch got in my hands and got me a little fisted, but it worked out."

With two outs, Davis Jr. drove in another run with an RBI single off Corpas glove and into center field, scoring Ulanday and giving the Pacifcs a 9-7 lead.

The Pacifics tallied on another run in the bottom of the eighth, giving their opening night crowd plenty to cheer for. In total, the San Rafael offense tallied a total of 17 hits.

The Pacifics were excited to have their crowd back in the stands for the first time for another season. And the crowd brought the energy needed for San Rafael to make their comeback.

"Coming back to San Rafael is always nice," said Marinez, "to see the community coming back and knowing that we are actually here again. Them showing up is a huge help for us playing because we enjoy having fans and were trying to give them a show."

The Pacifcs play their next game on Monday night against the newly added Pecos League Santa Rosa Scuba Divers at Alberts Park. They will look to continue their offensive productivity Monday, the same offense that kept their home crowd cheering.