Javier Garcia Locked in as Seals Closer

Javier Garcia notched his league-leading fourth save of the season in yesterday's 5-3 victory over the Chico Outlaws. Garcia is now a perfect 4 for 4 in save opportunities in 2009. The 25-year-old Venezuelan has only given up two hits and two runs in six innings of work.

Garcia was playing independent ball in the American Association last season when he was signed by the Boston Red Sox and assigned to Greenville of the South Atlantic League. He struggled with a 5.06 ERA in 25 apperances and was then subsequently released by the Red Sox. His underlying numbers with Greenville were still impressive (13 walks and 45 K's in 42 2/3 innings), so his dominant start to the season comes as no surprise.

The victory gave the Seals two out of three games against Chico -- their first series win on the road in franchise history. The Seals have now won two consecutive three-game sets and have improved their record to 6-10. The team is only two games back of the third-place Edmonton Capitals and they seem poised to climb out of the North Division cellar.