The San Benito Haybalers are the last remaining undefeated team
in the Tri-County Athletic League after a two-game sweep of Salinas
last weekend, but getting there wasn’t easy.
HOLLISTER
The San Benito Haybalers are the last remaining undefeated team in the Tri-County Athletic League after a two-game sweep of Salinas last weekend, but getting there wasn’t easy.
On Friday, the Cowboys erased an 8-2 deficit when they posted six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extras, only to see San Benito survive for a 10-8 victory after Mark Hurley and Spencer Brann knocked in a pair of runs in the eighth.
One day later, the two teams’ fortunes were reversed when it was the Balers who erased a 2-0 lead in the sixth and seventh innings. But it was also the Balers who earned the 3-2 victory in the bottom of the seventh when Ricky Garcia connected on a game-winning RBI single.
The two outcomes were just what San Benito (5-0 TCAL, 7-2) wanted, of course, but the close, edge-of-your-seat endings showed manager Michael Luna the team still has a ways to go.
“We’re still not playing nearly as well as we should be — making numerous mistakes as an experienced ball club,” Luna said. “Not backing up bases, running out of innings … I’m surprised by how many mistakes we’re making over the course of these games.”
While Saturday’s defensive showing for the Balers was nearly flawless — they had zero errors — Friday’s game was a far different story as San Benito committed five errors in the game, leading to three unearned runs.
After San Benito jumped out to an 8-2 lead through six innings of play, pitcher Kyle Vallejo (.1IP, 6R, 4ER, 2H, 3BB) came in to relieve starter Darin Gillies (6IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 9K, 1BB) in the seventh, but had difficulty finding the strike zone and walked three Cowboys as a result.
Dustin Rovella (.2IP, 1H, 0R) then relieved Vallejo with one out in the seventh and the bases loaded. After allowing a three-run double that knotted the game at 8-all, Rovella got the next two outs and stranded what would have been the game-winning run at second base.
“He’s in a big-time pressure situation and he ended up getting out of it,” Luna said of Rovella.
In the top of the eighth, San Benito managed to reclaim its lead when Garcia doubled with out one out and Hurley followed with an RBI single, giving the Balers a 9-8 lead. Brann then added some insurance when he hit an RBI double into right-center field, and scored Hurley from first to supply San Benito with a two-run cushion.
Pitcher Justin Schlie (1IP, 0r, 0H, 1K, 1BB) then entered the game in the bottom of the eighth to earn the win.
Brann was 3 of 4 with four RBI during Friday’s contest, while Hurley was 2 of 3 with a double and two RBI.
It was a slightly different story during Saturday’s game in Hollister, however. One day after scoring 10 runs, the Balers were held scoreless until the sixth inning.
With San Benito trailing 2-0, Garcia connected on a solo homer in the sixth that cut the deficit in half. One inning later, Vallejo got on after being hit by a pitch, then advanced to second base on a Spencer Brann walk. Trevor Fabing then singled to left field to score Vallejo, tying the game at 2-all, while Garcia then followed with an RBI single to left that scored Brann for the walk-off win.
Garcia finished the game 3 of 4 at the plate with two RBI. Bryan Granger (5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 5K, 3BB) started the game for San Benito, while Rovella (2IP, 1H, 2K, 0BB) earned the win in relief by tossing two scoreless innings.
San Benito will enjoy a bye this week. The Balers will return on Saturday when they will host Palma at 11 a.m.
Darin Gillies is expected to start for San Benito.
FRIDAY
TEAM
SANB — 201 041 02 — 10 9 5
SALN — 101 000 60 — 8 6 5
SATURDAY
TEAM
SALN — 000 200 0 — 2 8 0
SANB — 000 001 2 — 3 9 0
