A bases-clearing three-run double by starting pitcher Bryan
Granger in the bottom of the sixth supplied all the insurance the
Balers would need
— from one run to four runs — as San Benito outlasted the
visiting Mustangs 7-3 Thursday in Hollister.
HOLLISTER
Well, it was only appropriate that San Benito and Gilroy play a closer game this time around.
Just two days removed from what was the exact opposite — a one-sided mashing that saw the Balers post 10 runs in the fourth inning en route to a shortened yet convincing 17-2 victory — San Benito and Gilroy played in a matchup Thursday that was characterized more by timely hitting and heads-up base running than by walks, hit-batsmen and errors.
After all, the Balers connected on 15 hits Tuesday, 12 of which came after they led 6-0.
Follow Free Lance Sports on Twitter.
But while Thursday’s contest was a one-run ball game through the latter frames, it was again that “one inning” that vaulted the Balers to victory. A bases-clearing three-run double by starting pitcher Bryan Granger in the bottom of the sixth supplied all the insurance the Balers would need — from one run to four runs — as San Benito outlasted the visiting Mustangs 7-3 Thursday in Hollister.
There’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. The Balers (9-2 TCAL, 11-4) made sure they didn’t cross it.
“I was afraid that we were gonna come out, thinking we’re gonna hit a bunch of doubles like we did last game,” Granger said. “But we had a good solid practice yesterday and everyone’s head was in the game.”
It is San Benito’s third straight win over the Mustangs, and its 11th in the last 12 meetings.
But aside from the loss, and aside from the fact that they never led in the game, the Mustangs (7-4-1 TCAL, 10-5-1) still out-hit San Benito. But the Balers had a bit of an edge in the timely hitting department.
“It was an improvement from Tuesday,” Gilroy manager Johnny Ramirez said. “I think we were a little more relaxed, and it showed. But one inning cost us again.”
And it was one inning that the Mustangs nearly got out of unscathed.
San Benito put runners on second and third with nobody out when Gilroy starting pitcher Ryan Alba induced a pair of fielder’s choice ground-ball outs — the first getting a sliding Marcus Sabatte at home plate, the second a force out at third base.
Following a walk to San Benito’s Shadoe Valenzuela, though, Granger stepped into the box with the bases loaded and, on a 2-0 count, lined a two-out, three-run double to the left-center field wall that turned a tight 4-3 game into a comfortable 7-3 cushion.
“I knew I was gonna have to go back out the next inning and pitch,” said Granger, who went the distance on the hill for the Balers, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out seven.
“I knew we needed some insurance runs,” he added. “I got the pitch I needed and just squared it up.”
Although not the 15-run gap from Tuesday, San Benito’s four-run edge entering Thursday’s final frame provided just enough breathing room. After Granger retired the first two batters in the seventh, the next two reached base, giving the Mustangs a bit of life.
But like he did to the first batter of the game, Granger got a much-needed K in the game’s final at-bat.
“He was great. He was pounding the zone and made those guys earn everything they got,” San Benito manager Jason Bugg said afterward. “Our philosophy is, we’ve got good [pitchers] … It’s gonna be hard for (teams) to get three, four hits in a row. So pound the strike zone and make them earn everything.
“And that’s what he did. He challenged those hitters and he dominated that strike zone and came out with a great win.”
Like Tuesday’s game, San Benito worked with a lead from the get-go. Although it wasn’t as comfortable as six runs through three innings, it was a lead, nonetheless.
A somewhat rough start for Alba in the home half of the first led to two Baler runs. Matt Vallejo was hit by a pitch to leadoff the first and a drag-bunt single by Daniel Arevalo followed, each instance compounded when a pitch in the dirt moved both players into scoring position.
Jacob Tonascia then lined an RBI single opposite field, scoring Vallejo from third base, while Arevalo chased him home following a wild pitch two batters later.
Marcus Sabatte then lifted a solo homer to left-center field one inning later, staking San Benito to a 3-0 lead.
“To come out and score in the first inning, it was like we had just left off from the other game. That was tremendous,” Bugg said. “That’s what we wanted to do in the game plan. We wanted to not let them hang around in the game too much. They did, but also score early. And that’s what we did.”
Despite an initial three-run deficit, Gilroy never let the game get away. Two runs were tallied in the top half of the fourth, cutting San Benito’s lead to one run.
Following back-to-back singles by Eric Vegas and Reed Kienle, a somewhat risky double steal hit-and-run paid off when Matt Bartholic lined an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Vegas easily from second base.
Kienle then scored one batter later on a pitch in the dirt by Granger.
“This team fights. Even at the end, we still had a shot,” Ramirez said.
Both teams exchanged runs in the fifth and sixth innings — San Benito going up 4-2 on a Vallejo sac fly; Gilroy responding with a sac fly by Vegas. But the Balers got the last word when they tacked on three more runs in the home half of the sixth inning, ensuring a win in the season series with one game left to be played.
“Ryan Alba just pitched his butt off for us, kept us in the game,” Ramirez said. “We make a play here or there in that last inning, turn two instead of one, probably get out trailing by two, but we’ll have a shot.
“I’m proud of these kids. They keep fighting. They’re not gonna give in or anything.”
Alba, like Granger, went the distance for the Mustangs, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out five.
Ramirez didn’t feel Tuesday’s convincing outcome had much of an affect on the mental aspect of his players entering Thursday’s game. Tuesday they were tight; Thursday they were more relaxed, he said.
“You could see it with the approaches we were taking,” Ramirez added. “But Granger. Him and (Darin) Gillies are the best 1-2 out here. I tip my hat to Granger.”
Gilroy will look to rebound on Friday when it travels south to Salinas, while the Balers will return home for a matchup with North Salinas. First pitch in both games is 4 p.m.
