‘Balers get bases-loaded walk in eighth, hold off rally in
bottom of inning
San Benito scored a run in the top of the eight inning on a bases loaded walk and survived a scare in the bottom of the inning to earn a 2-1 win Tuesday over Wilcox in the Santa Clara Bruin Classic at Washington Park.
Zach Canez opened the eighth inning by reaching on an error with one out. After Kolton Klauer popped up, Brian Haggett delivered a single to put runners at first and second. Bryan Scott was intentionally walked to load the bases for Ronnie Fhurong and he drew a walk to give the Haybalers (9-2) the lead and the win.
San Benito continues play in the Bruin Classic today and will play at either 4:30pm or 7:30pm, depending on its seeding which is yet to be determined. The ‘Balers could possibly play Wilcox again, a team they’ve beat twice in close contests this year.
“I wouldn’t mind that because we’ve had two really good games with them,” coach Michael Luna said. “They a really good, well-coached team.”
The Chargers made a run at tying the game or taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth by getting the first two batters aboard. San Benito pitcher Steve Cabral walked the first batter on four pitches and hit the next batter. He went 2-0 on the third batter he faced, before battling back to strike him out.
The next batter hit a dribbler in front of the plate and was thrown out at first, but both runners moved up to put the winning run in scoring position for Wilcox’s No. 3 hitter.
Luna visited with Cabral on the mound and considered intentionally walking him, but decided to pitch cautiously and Cabral got him to fly out to centerfield to end the game.
“He went from the first six pitches where he can’t find the strike zone to showing he knows what he’s doing up there,” Luna said.
The ‘Balers took the lead in the top of the first inning. Haggett reached on a two-out walk and Scott singled to put runners at the corners. With Wilcox holding Scott on at first, Fhurong hit a flare that fell out of the reach of the first baseman and Haggett came home with the initial run.
The Chargers got that run back in the fifth inning. With two outs and Fhurong on the mound, Wilcox coaxed an 11-pitch walk. A balk moved the runner to first and a single tied the game.
Miles Sanchez entered in relief in the sixth and threw two scoreless to force the game to extra innings and earned the win when the ‘Balers took the eighth-inning lead.
Kevin Burley had another strong day at the plate with a double and Scott also had a double.
