Pacific brings Train Robbers rivalry to San Rafael

San Rafael saw a five-point lead disappear late in the game to lose 15-11 to the Bakersfield Train Robbers in the second of a four-game home-and-home series Thursday at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

The Pacifics (16-8) scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take an 11-6 lead. The Train Robbers (15-7) got two runs off San Rafael starter Xavier Stewart in the bottom of the sixth and brought in relief pitcher Karon Casey, but Casey quickly gave up a three-run homer to Jalynn Lee as Bakersfield battled back to tie the game.

Bakersfield added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh when Pacific pitcher Dan Crossan took the mound to end the game as the losing pitcher. Stewart walked six batters, struck out one and allowed an earned run on seven hits in five innings.

San Rafael scored four runs in the third inning and then the Pacifics scored four more in the top of the fifth to double their total and take an 8-6 lead. A home run by Beau Dorman gave the Pacifics three runs in the sixth inning.

Terry Hill was the centerpiece of the Pacific lineup, going 2-for-5 with 2 runs and 4 RBIs, while Esai Santos went 3-for-5 with 1 run and 2 RBIs.

The Pacifics lost the first two games in Bakersfield, but the series will conclude Saturday night at Albert Park in San Rafael.

golf

San Anselmo’s Drake Smith shot a 2-under 70 Thursday at Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton to narrowly miss qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship. The cutoff for the local qualifying tournament was 3-under 69, with seven players competing for the final two spots. The top 12 players and two alternates qualified.

Nick Wood of Novato (1-under 71, tied for 27th) and Nikolai Friedman of Mill Valley (72, tied for 32nd) were close behind Smith.