But that storyline ended with the dramatic suddenness of a southern Oregon summer thunderstorm.
The Medford Rogues (15-19) scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to put away the Victoria HarbourCats (15-15) by a 15-6 count in West Coast League baseball action Tuesday night before 1,232 fans at Harry and David Field.
The teams meet again tonight and Thursday morning before the 鈥機ats scurry up I-5 to be home in time for a Friday night game against the Wenatchee AppleSox at Royal Athletic Park.
Victoria starting pitcher Scott Kuzminsky, one of five HarbourCats selected for the WCL all-star game next Tuesday at Royal Athletic, had a rude welcome to Medford as Rogue bats touched the University of Hawaii Rainbow for six runs on six hits in four and one-third innings of work.
Kuzminsky was the first of five Victoria pitchers on what became a Medford blowout. Will Ballowe out of the University of Washington Huskies, who allowed four runs on seven hits in 22脷3 innings, took the loss.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 the bottom of the seventh that did us in,鈥� said Victoria manager Dennis Rogers.
鈥淲e had a 4-0 lead and started out well. Our starting pitcher couldn鈥檛 do a good job. We couldn鈥檛 rely on our pitching tonight.鈥�
Timmy Richards, with two hits including a double and two RBIs, was the offensive player of note for Victoria. Kevin Davidson of the Rogues showed why he is coming to Victoria for the all-star game next week by destroying the 鈥機ats with three hits and three RBIS.
AROUND THE BASES: On the strength of his four-hit complete-game 6-0 shutout Sunday against the Gems in Klamath Falls, pitcher Bryan Conant was named the HarbourCats player of the week. The southpaw from Cal State-Fullerton is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA.
