Brackenridge ace strikes out 17 in 3-2 8-inning victory
By Mark Kusenberger
tsrnsports.com
Special to SAsports.com
In 19 games until Friday, Burbank Bulldog batters had only struck out 70 times in 118 innings. In their last 3 games, they’d scored 61 runs.
So how good was Brackenridge ace Roger Bernal, who pitched 8 innings, and struck out 17 in the Eagles’ 3-2 victory over the Burbank Bulldogs?
Bernal (6-0) gave up just 4 hits and 2 runs – both earned - walking 4 in his 17 strikeout effort. Mixing a fastball and a changeup, Bernal struck out each Bulldog batter at least once, 6 of them twice, one of them three times.
Alex Salas (7-1) of Burbank also went the distance, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs – all earned, walking 1, hitting 2 batters, and striking out 11. Most evenings, especially with Burbank featuring 9 hitters with .300+ batting averages on 45 or more plate appearances, that would be plenty fine for a victory.
Initially, missed scoring opportunities were the story. With one out in the top of the third, Brackenridge center fielder David Quiroga was hit by a 2-2 pitch. He promptly stole second, then five pitches later went to third on a bad pickoff throw. Raul Lozano fouled off five 1-2 pitches before lofting a deep fly ball to right fielder Daniel Guajardo. Quiroga crossed the plate well before the throw from Guajardo arrived, but Burbank catcher Jimmy Cuellar alertly threw to third baseman Javier Perez. When Perez stepped on third, Quiroga was ruled out for having left the base early, and Brackenridge turned an unusual 9-2-5 double play.
Burbank left their own strange scoring opportunity unused in the third. DH Gabriel Raygoza swung at a wild pitch strike three, then beat the catcher’s throw to first. Mike Gomez bunted into a force play for the first out. Then Carlos Olivares hit a soft tapper to charging third baseman Kristian Alonzo. Alonzo appeared to have a play at second, but the throw was ruled late, and both Gomez and Olivares were safe.
With runners at first and second and one out, Alonzo played back for leadoff hitter Aaron Alejandro. Alejandro bunted, and both Alonzo and first baseman Emiliano Summerville charged, while second baseman Raul Lozano covered second and shortstop Gabriel Magana covered third. Alonzo fielded the bunt, but with no one covering first, Alonzo had no play; Alejandro’s bunt was the first Burbank hit, and it loaded the bases.
After Bernal struck out John Hernandez, he had a 1-2 count on Alex Salas. On his ball 2 pitch, Olivares ran about 30 feet away from second base, trying to draw a throw, initiate a rundown during which Gomez could score from third. Instead of falling for it, Brack catcher Noe Ruiz threw to third base, where Kristian Alonzo held the ball, throwing only when Olivares was close to second. Olivares returned safely, but Gomez couldn’t advance. On the next pitch, Bernal struck out Salas to escape the jam with the game still scoreless.
Brack took the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Magana was hit by a pitch, then went to third on a double to the right field wall by Noe Ruiz. Alonzo hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Magana and giving Brack a 1-0 lead. Vince Rivera struck out to end the inning.
The Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth. Lozano drew a leadoff walk, then one out later went to third on a hit-and-run single by Magana. Ruiz singled to right to score Lozano and make it 2-0. Salas then struck out Alonzo and Rivera to end the inning.
Burbank tied it in the bottom of the sixth. One out walks by Salas and Esteban Reygoza were followed by a single up the middle by Cuellar, driving home Hernandez to make it 2-1 Brackenridge; on the play Esteban Reygoza to third. Daniel Guajardo then bunted to first; Summerville, rather than throwing home, elected to tag Guajardo, allowing Esteban Raygoza to score, tying the ballgame; Guajardo was awarded an RBI-squeeze bunt. Gabriel Reygoza struck out to end the inning with the score 2-2.
Burbank threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Olivares blooped a one-out single to left. After one more out, John Hernandez drew a walk, but Bernal struck out Salas to force extra innings.
Brackenridge took the lead in the top of the eighth. With one out, Bernal doubled to the right-center field wall. Magana drove him in with a single up the middle off shortstop Esteban Reygoza’s glove. Magana was caught stealing, and Ruiz grounded to third to end to inning. Bernal closed out the game by retiring Burbank 1-2-3, striking out two.
Brackenridge completes the first half of district play 12-5 overall and 6-0 in district. Burbank has won 5 straight district titles (including the 2006 season which they forfeited) but is now 14-6 overall and 5-1 in district, one game behind Brackenridge.
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