Triples fuel comeback win for Falcons

A pair of eighth inning, two-run triples fueled a come-from-behind, 9-5 victory over Santa Rosa on Thursday afternoon at Falcon Field  that evened the series at 1-1.  The Falcons, who once led 4-0 and never trailed until the seventh inning, were staring at the possibility of a tough loss when they came to bat in the eighth, down 5-4.  But Aidan Malm put the Falcons ahead 6-5 with his two-run triple to center field, then four batters later Andrew Williams repeated the feat with his own two-run triple to right that put the game out of reach at 9-5.  Starter Tyler Cochran shut out the Bear Cubs through five innings, then was lifted after allowing a walk and a double to lead off the sixth.  Reliever Nolan Murphy stopped a Bear Cub rally with a double play grounder in the seventh, then retired the side in order in the eighth to earn the win.  Falcon leadoff hitter John Mook missed a home run by a foot when he hit the first pitch of the home half of the first inning off the top of the right field fence for a triple.  Mook later added three singles to go 4-for-5 and raise his batting average to .436 (#1 in northern California). 

The Falcons remain in fifth place in the Big 8 at 9-8, two games behind Sac City (11-6) and three back of the logjam in first (Sierra, Delta, and Santa Rosa, all at 12-5).  The series finale at Santa Rosa will be played at 2:30 today (Friday).