Visalia, CA – Enyervert Perez hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning as the Visalia Rawhide (17-26) defeated the Lake Elsinore Storm (24-19) 8-6 in front of a sold out crowd on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark.
Perez hit his second home run of the night, a two run 408 foot blast off the left field scoreboard for Visalia’s third walk-off of the season and third win of the week in four games against the Storm.
The Rawhide erased a five run deficit by scoring seven of their eight runs over four different home runs.
Visalia trailed 5-0 entering the bottom of the fourth. Kayson Cunningham worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on a wild pitch. Later in the frame Pedro Catuy launched a two run blast to right field to complete a three run frame.
The Rawhide then took the lead in the fifth inning. JD Dix led off with a double and Perez tied the game with a line drive two run homer that cleared the left field wall. Catuy then gave Visalia the lead two at-bats later with a solo home run to left field.
Lake Elsinore tied the game on an infield single and unearned run scoring in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth JD Dix worked a walk before Perez provided the heroics with two outs.
Raul Garayzar pitched 3.1 innings of relief for Visalia allowing just two hits and the unearned run. Luke Dotson got two outs in the ninth and earned his first professional win.
Perez finished with two hits, two runs and four RBI in his first career two home run night. The corner infielder from Venezuela has four home runs and seven extra base hits in his last five games played.
Catuy finished with two hits, two runs and three RBI.
Visalia hit four home runs in a game for the first time since June 6, 2023.
The Rawhide will look to secure a series win against the Storm on Saturday night as part of Military Appreciation Night at Valley Strong Ballpark. The Rawhide and Congressman Vince Fong will honor all active, retired and reserve members of the US Military with up to four free tickets by showing their military ID at the Rawhide Ticket Office presented by Kaweah Health.
Plus the first 350 fans to the ballpark will receive a Barry Zito bobblehead courtesy of ResCom Pest Control. Zito was the 2002 Cy Young winner and a three-time All-Star with the Oakland Athletics before helping the San Francisco Giants win the 2012 World Series. Zito pitched for the Visalia Oaks in 1999.
Saturday night will conclude with a patriotic postgame drone show.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM with gates open for season ticket holders at 5:15 PM and the general public at 5:30 PM.
All Rawhide tickets are available through the team’s website and at the stadium box office presented by Kaweah Health starting at 10 AM on weekday gamedays.
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The Visalia Rawhide are the Single-A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks playing professional baseball in the Central Valley since 1946. The Rawhide's 2026 theme is "Savor the Season" as the team transforms into the Central Valley Sir Loins on Saturday gamedays.
Stay up to date with the Rawhide on the team’s website and by following the Rawhide on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and X. The Rawhide play all home games at Valley Strong Ballpark located at 300 N Giddings Street Visalia, CA 93291.
Fans can purchase season ticket packages, group ticket plans, single game tickets and team merchandise through the Rawhide website and at the stadium ticket office sponsored by Kaweah Health. All Rawhide games can be watched on MLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live App with a free radio broadcast also available online. Select home games will be aired on KNXT MyTV53. For more information, visit milb.com/visalia, email info@rawhidebaseball.com or call (559) 732-4433.