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liberty-ca · 12-14-2025, 12:05 PM

SEATTLE AT SACRAMENTO — “VALADEZ IGNITES, PRAYERS CLOSE JUNE IN COMMAND”
By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle

On the last day in June Sacramento Prayers (61-21) opened their series against the Seattle Lucifers (48-34) with a commanding 7-1 victory at Sacramento Stadium.

Behind a perfect night from Andres Valadez and a steady, authoritative start by Aaron Gilbert, Sacramento handled the Seattle Lucifers 7–1 Thursday night at Sacramento Stadium, improving to 61–21 and closing a dominant June with one final statement.

Valadez was everywhere. The third baseman went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored, and four RBIs, punctuating the night with a three-run blast in the second inning that effectively broke the game open.

With Sacramento nursing a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the second, Valadez turned on an Edwin Gaytan fastball and sent it into right field for his eighth homer of the season. In one swing, the Prayers had a 4–0 cushion — and the stadium exhaled.

“It feels good, just a great win all around,” Valadez said afterward.

That was more than enough support for Aaron Gilbert, who earned his 10th win of the season. The right-hander worked efficient 6.1 innings, giving up just one run on five hits while striking out five and allowing the offense to build the insurmountable lead. He navigated traffic calmly, inducing ground balls when needed and never letting Seattle’s lineup build sustained pressure. The lone blemish came in the seventh, when Luis Guerrero tripled home Mark Mayeski, trimming the lead to 4–1.

Jose Vizcarra, stepping into a high-leverage role, was dominant in relief. He entered with runners looming and promptly shut the door — then slammed it completely. The right-hander finished the final 2.2 innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit to earn his first save of the season. Seattle never threatened again.

Sacramento’s offense added polish in the eighth. After patience and contact loaded the situation, Valadez lined an RBI single before Luis Martinez delivered the knockout blow — a two-run triple that stretched the lead to 7–1 and sent fans into a late-night celebration.

The Prayers finished with 12 hits, balanced throughout the order. Martinez drove in two, Alex Velasquez chipped in an RBI, and Jose Rubbi continued to apply quiet pressure at the bottom of the lineup. Sacramento didn’t chase runs early — they waited, then struck.

Seattle, meanwhile, struck out 10 times and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, undone by Gilbert’s efficiency and Vizcarra’s dominance.

The Prayers walked off the field having gone 23–5 for the month — pitching-rich, mistake-light, and increasingly comfortable playing the role of league standard. The victory not only puts the Prayers back in the win column but demonstrates their continued strength in the starting rotation and their remarkable depth in the lineup.

The Prayers will look to secure series win against the Seattle Lucifers in the next game of the home stand on Friday, July 1st, when Jordan Rubalcava (13-2, 1.56 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the hosting team.

12-14-2025, 12:05 PM	#56
liberty-ca All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: New Westminster, BC Posts: 596	BNN Game Recap — June 30, 1988 SEATTLE AT SACRAMENTO — “VALADEZ IGNITES, PRAYERS CLOSE JUNE IN COMMAND” By Chad G. Petey, Baseball News Network (BNN) and Gemmie Nye,Sacramento Sports Chronicle On the last day in June Sacramento Prayers (61-21) opened their series against the Seattle Lucifers (48-34) with a commanding 7-1 victory at Sacramento Stadium. Behind a perfect night from Andres Valadez and a steady, authoritative start by Aaron Gilbert, Sacramento handled the Seattle Lucifers 7–1 Thursday night at Sacramento Stadium, improving to 61–21 and closing a dominant June with one final statement. Valadez was everywhere. The third baseman went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored, and four RBIs, punctuating the night with a three-run blast in the second inning that effectively broke the game open. With Sacramento nursing a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the second, Valadez turned on an Edwin Gaytan fastball and sent it into right field for his eighth homer of the season. In one swing, the Prayers had a 4–0 cushion — and the stadium exhaled. “It feels good, just a great win all around,” Valadez said afterward. That was more than enough support for Aaron Gilbert, who earned his 10th win of the season. The right-hander worked efficient 6.1 innings, giving up just one run on five hits while striking out five and allowing the offense to build the insurmountable lead. He navigated traffic calmly, inducing ground balls when needed and never letting Seattle’s lineup build sustained pressure. The lone blemish came in the seventh, when Luis Guerrero tripled home Mark Mayeski, trimming the lead to 4–1. Jose Vizcarra, stepping into a high-leverage role, was dominant in relief. He entered with runners looming and promptly shut the door — then slammed it completely. The right-hander finished the final 2.2 innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit to earn his first save of the season. Seattle never threatened again. Sacramento’s offense added polish in the eighth. After patience and contact loaded the situation, Valadez lined an RBI single before Luis Martinez delivered the knockout blow — a two-run triple that stretched the lead to 7–1 and sent fans into a late-night celebration. The Prayers finished with 12 hits, balanced throughout the order. Martinez drove in two, Alex Velasquez chipped in an RBI, and Jose Rubbi continued to apply quiet pressure at the bottom of the lineup. Sacramento didn’t chase runs early — they waited, then struck. Seattle, meanwhile, struck out 10 times and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, undone by Gilbert’s efficiency and Vizcarra’s dominance. The Prayers walked off the field having gone 23–5 for the month — pitching-rich, mistake-light, and increasingly comfortable playing the role of league standard. The victory not only puts the Prayers back in the win column but demonstrates their continued strength in the starting rotation and their remarkable depth in the lineup. The Prayers will look to secure series win against the Seattle Lucifers in the next game of the home stand on Friday, July 1st, when Jordan Rubalcava (13-2, 1.56 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the hosting team.