Ventura Tops Stockton for 9th Straight

It’s probably nothing more than a coincidence, but the Ventura County Gulls have played nine games since second baseman Santiago Garcia entered the lineup, and the team hasn’t lost yet.

Garcia had contributed only three hits to the first eight victories of the Gulls’ streak. But on Tuesday, he left his mark on win No. 9, hitting his first home run, singling twice, stealing home, driving in four runs and scoring four himself.

Catcher Greg Myers also had three hits, including a home run, as the Gulls beat the Stockton Ports, 12-9, in an ugly game before a crowd of about 100 at Ventura College.

“Don’t ask me to describe that one,” Gull Manager Glenn Ezell said of a game that featured 5 errors, 16 walks and a hit batter.

Asked to describe Garcia, Ezell said: “I think you’re going to see that he’s a good hitter.”

Garcia wasn’t able to show that in spring training after breaking the index finger on his right hand less than two weeks into camp.

He didn’t start playing again until May 9, at which time the Gulls were 14-14.

Today they’re 23-14, and Garcia said through interpreter Alfredo Ortiz that he feels “much better.”

Also feeling pretty good is pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, who improved to 6-2 despite giving up six hits and walking three in five innings.

The ace of the Gulls’ staff left with a 5-3 lead after the Gulls scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, getting the maximum out of three walks, an error, two wild pitches, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly.

Ken McMullen, co-owner of the Gulls, said that Stottlemyre’s knee was bothering him and that he was scheduled to have it checked by a doctor, but Ezell said Stottlemyre’s knees were fine.

Asked about the right-hander’s performance, Ezell said: “I can’t remember that far back in the game,” which lasted three hours, 17 minutes.

The Gulls scored seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings, Garcia providing a two-run single in the four-run sixth and Myers hitting a solo home run to right in the seventh.

Their streak was safe for another day.

And so was Garcia’s.

Gull Notes

Jim Biby, general manager of the Gulls, said he has been told that Steve Howe could win an appeal of his expulsion by the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues, governing body of minor league baseball. Biby, of course, is hopeful that a decision will be handed down before Friday, when the San Jose Bees visit Ventura for the opener of a four-game weekend series. Biby said that a possible appearance by the former Dodger would sell an extra 300 to 400 tickets a day. . . . Ken McMullen, co-owner of the Gulls, said the team is “directing its energies” toward playing in Ventura again next season “because we’ve been turned down too many times in Camarillo.”.