Jay scores 6 in 7th, 1 in 8th for comeback victory over Warren
By Mark Kusenberger
tsrnsports.com
Special to SAsports.com
Hector Flores eased an opposite-field single into right, driving home Joshua Gutierrez for the winning run in the bottom of eight and giving the Jay Mustangs a 7-6 victory over the Warren Warriors.
Jay rallied from down 6 in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings Friday night at Northside Baseball Field #2.
Joshua Gutierrez ignited the winning rally with a first pitch, two-out double to the left field gap off losing pitcher and starting left fielder Ricardo Espinosa. Flores followed by depositing a 1-0 pitch into right field to score Gutierrez.
Warren starting pitcher Blake Marino carried a three-hit shutout and a 6-0 into the 7th. Marino walked three and hit one batter through the first six, but stranded six Mustangs and got a double-play fly ball in the second to preserve the shutout. But after one out, Jay loaded the bases without a hit when Joseph Gutierrez was hit by a pitch, cousin Aaron Gutierrez drew an eight-pitch walk, and cousin Joshua Gutierrez walked on five pitches. (Chris Gutierrez, Joshua’s brother and Joseph and Aaron’s cousin, played for Jay last year as a senior.) Flores singled to right, plating Joseph Gutierrez and breaking up the shutout. Roy Branch followed with a grounder to shortstop; the potential game-ending double play ball was bobbled, and all runners were safe, allowing Aaron Gutierrez to score and make it 6-2. (Branch would be awarded an RBI because the official scorer can only assume one out at second base, which would have allowed Aaron Gutierrez to score.)
Jose Cortez, improbably representing the tying run, lined a single to left field to score Joshua Gutierrez; the ball got away from the outfielder, allowing Flores to also score and the other runners to advance a base, making it 6-4 with the tying runs in scoring position, and still only one out.
Marino was clearly tired, but Warren coach Scott Pederson gave him every opportunity to finish the victory. Furthermore, dangerous sophomore Roland Botello was due up for Jay, and even with a base open, Pederson did not wish to put the winning run on base. Marino pitched to Botello, dug down deep and struck him out with a 2-2 pitch on a checked swing. But Daniel Medrano smashed Marino’s next pitch to the left field wall for a 2-run, game-tying double. Rudy Hernandez lined the next pitch to shortstop Aaron Salinas, ending the inning but clearly signaling that Marino had been figured out by Jay hitters.
Marino, who got through the first six innings on 86 pitches, needed 31 to get through the seventh. He went 7 innings, giving up 7 hits and 6 runs – the last 3 unearned – walking 5, striking out 6, and hitting 2.
Joseph Gutierrez, on the other hand, was arguably sharper. He also went 7 innings, and also gave up 6 runs (all earned) on 7 hits and 2 hit batsmen. In contrast, Gutierrez walked only two. His problem was the gopher ball. He gave up a two-run homer to Tony Chapa on a hanging curve in the second to make it 2-0 Warren, then a solo shot to Parker Cundiff leading off the sixth that made it 3-0.
In the seventh, Warren rallied for three insurance runs. Chapa led off with a single, and was sacrificed to second by Miguel Gomez. One out later, Evan Jeffers singled home Gomez, then Marino went yard to make it 6-0. The two-run shot appeared to seal a Warren victory.
Victor LaCourse drew a leadoff walk in the eighth against Jay winner Roy Branch, but was picked off first by Jay catcher John Pinkston. Branch earned his third career victory against Warren; he also pitched four no-hit innings against Warren on April 13th, 2007, but rain and thunder canceled the game and erased Branch’s outing from the record books.
Hector Flores went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, a run scored, and a walk for Jay; Daniel Medrano also had two hits, including his game-tying double. Blake Marino went 2 for 3 including the two-run homer, and Tony Chapa went 2 for 2 with the two-run homer, 2 runs scored and a walk.
No Warriors struck out Friday night.
Jay moves to 12-2 for the season and 4-1 in district, tied for the 28-5A lead with O’Connor. Warren falls to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in district, tied with Stevens just a half game out of first.
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