They prefer wins like Sunday night’s 9-6 triumph, which featured the Outlaws constructing an early five-run lead over the Reno Silver Sox with a relentless offensive attack and maintaining it through the end with assertive pitching.

Both of those facets were embodied by shortstop Jesse Kovacs and pitcher Tyler Pearson. Kovacs, sparked by a two-run home run in the first inning, had five RBIs in his first four at-bats and Pearson kept Reno at bay in a fluid 7 1/3 innings of work to round out a comfortable win snapping Chico’s two-game losing skid.

“Ideally you want to go out and jump on top early because it just makes things easier for your pitching and even hitting as well,” said Kovacs, who finished the night with a single, a double and the homer that was his first of the season. “It just loosens up everybody out there. The pitchers aren’t worried about making mistakes and guys are going up to the plate not worried about doing too much.”