RENO - After six games, it's evident that the Reno Silver Sox have some pop in their bats.
The Silver Sox, who got three hits each from Hector Zamora, Marcus Jensen and ex-Nevada star Bub Madrid, slammed a season-high 18 hits en route to a 16-1 thrashing of the Fullerton Flyers Wednesday night at Peccole Park.
Reno concluded its first-ever Golden Baseball league homestand with a 4-2 record. The Sox visit Chico tonight and Friday before returning home for a two-game weekend series.
The 18-hit barrage raised Reno's average to an impressive .307. All nine starters collected at least one hit against four Fullerton pitchers.
"We have so many offensive threats on this team all the way through the lineup," Madrid said. "It takes so much pressure off the guys hitting eight or nine. I know if I get on base, I'll score."
Madrid, who went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs, raised his average to .428 and has been the big surprise for the Silver Sox.
"I don't know how to explain it," Madrid said. "I'm really seeing the ball well right now; right out of the pitcher's hands."
Manager Les Lancaster liked his team's approach at the plate, and said that hitting is contagious.
"It really is," said the Reno skipper. "We were more aggressive tonight. We were jumping on the pitcher early in the count. We struggled the past couple of nights. This was good to see."
The offense wasn't the only thing that sparkled last night.
With the bullpen severely depleted after two tough games, Lancaster needed lefty Chris Marini to get deep into the game, and he was able to do that. Marini allowed only a run and four hits over seven innings. Mike Done and Josh Shackelford each threw a scoreless inning of relief.
"Marini did an outstanding job," Lancaster said. "He gave the bullpen a rest."
It was a huge difference from his first outing when he allowed three earned runs, six total, in the opening-night loss to Long Beach.
"I felt a lot more comfortable," Marini said. "The first time out I was too excited.
"I thought I had all my pitches going (fastball, cut fastball, curve and change). I thought my change-up was working really well. When I can throw the change for strikes, it's good. I hope to go that deep every time I pitch."
And, like any pitcher, he was overjoyed with the run support. He believes in his team's offense, which is off to a sensational start.
After spotting Fullerton an early 1-0 lead, the Reno offense got untracked in the fourth inning, scoring four times against the Flyers' starter/loser Wes Faust, who fell to 0-2.
Jensen singled, extending his hit streak to six straight games. He moved to second when Edgar Varela was plunked by a pitch and scored on Zamora's single to right. Caleb Maher, Madrid and reserve catcher Wayne Astrauskas followed with consecutive run-scoring singles to make it 4-1. Madrid has now hit safely in six straight games.
Faust departed in the fifth after surrendering a solo homer to Jensen, his third in three games, and a double to Varela. Enter Mike McTamney, who surrendered three ninth-inning runs on Monday.
The Sox carved up McTamney like a sacrificial lamb, collecting seven hits before the Fullerton right-hander was able to retire the side.
Doug Gredvig singled home Varela to make it 6-1, and Zamora followed with a run-scoring double to make it 7-1. A sacrifice fly by Maher, another run-scoring hit by Madrid, an RBI double by Astrauskas, a run-scoring single by Evan Sobel and a run-scoring double by Jensen culminated the seven-run inning and made it 11-1.
Madrid drove in a run against Ryan Olson in the sixth to make it 12-1. His bases-loaded walk in the eight made it 13-1, and Victor Hall capped the scoring with a three-run triple to deep center.
Notes: Gredvig also extended his hitting streak to six games by going 2-for-4, scoring three times and driving in a run ... Hideki Nagasaka will throw in the bullpen Saturday, and pending the outcome of that workout, he could be activated ... Jensen started as the designated hitter for the first time this year and went 3-for-3 with a homer, double, single and walk ... Lancaster indicated changes could be made by the weekend to the current roster. Other than Madrid, middle infielders Adam Callan, Evan Sobel and Mike Done haven't been hitting well. .. Reliever William Krout has struggled in three relief appearances, and his 9.82 ERA may not be long for the team.