Canez connects on walk-off double, ‘Balers win 7-6 in eight
innings for the second time in as many games against Gilroy
Hollister
San Benito’s Zach Canez proved the adage that it’s not how you start, but how you finish.
Starting on the hill for the ‘Balers Saturday against visiting Gilroy, Canez threw just three innings, allowed four runs on six hits and was knocked from the game after surrendering three straight doubles in the top of the fourth inning.
At first glance, it was certainly not his day.
“I just had to be able to separate it,” said Canez, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. “You’re mad that you’re doing bad, but you’ve got to let it go and move on to your next chance.”
That next chance came in the bottom of the eighth inning, where, after the ‘Balers managed to tie the game at 6-all in the bottom of the seventh, Canez drilled a walk-off double to the left-center gap that plated Greg Huth from first base for the 7-6 triumph.
Despite the two teams moving in opposite directions – with San Benito owning the top spot in the Tri-County Athletic League at 10-0 and Gilroy (5-5 TCAL) suffering through a tough stretch of games – just two days prior on Thursday, the ‘Balers escaped Gilroy with a rather similar 7-6 eight-inning victory.
“Eight innings, 7-6. It’s tough because we’re in such a funk,” said manager Clint Wheeler, whose Mustangs have lost nine in a row and 10 of their last 11. “We’re battling every out, they’re playing hurt, but we’re competing which is good to see.”
The two close games will perhaps give Gilroy an edge, though, as their record does not exactly tell the story surrounding the team. Said Wheeler, “We’re still in the playoff hunt.”
“We know we can play with them,” said Gilroy’s Lukas Fortino, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI double and two runs scored. “We knew that from the beginning. We can play with anyone we want, it’s just a matter of how we play.”
Added freshman Eric Vegas, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI, “We just need to move on and try and get into the playoffs.”
After San Benito grabbed a 4-1 lead in the third off a Kyle Zozaya three-run blast to right-center field, the Mustangs plated five in the following inning, capitalizing on two hit-batsmen and three walks by ‘Baler pitchers.
Gilroy had the bases loaded with just one out, and looked to add more insurance before the inning was through, but San Benito manager Michael Luna brought in freshman Darin Gillies, and seemingly turned the tide of the ball game.
“The other day in Gilroy, I got a chance to pitch and I didn’t do the best I could do,” Gillies said. “I came in today and I just knew I had to take care of business.”
Gillies allowed just one run in the inning – supplying Gilroy with a 6-4 cushion – but kept the Mustangs off the base path for the remaining 4 2/3 innings of play, allowing just two hits.
“He’s the MVP of the day – just throwing up zero’s and giving us a chance to win in the eighth,” Luna said of Gillies. “Once again, we always have tough games against Gilroy. There’s always one team that will give you problems for whatever reason.”
Gillies was also involved in the ‘Baler comeback as well. The 6-foot-4 hurler lined a double down the third-base line in the fifth to score Brian Haggett from second, while in the bottom of the seventh, with Gilroy ahead 6-5, Gillies’ sac bunt resulted in a throwing error to first base. Pinch-runner Ricky Garcia, who was filling in after Zozaya led off with a walk, sprinted from first to home to tie the ball game and eventually send it to extras.
“This is the first year I’ve experienced it, but Gilroy is always tough and they always come to play,” Gillies said. “We came out to play today and Thursday and got two wins.”
San Benito, which owns a three-game lead over second-place Palma, will play two games against Everett Alvarez this week.
The Mustangs, which are now 7-14 overall, will have a pair of games against Alisal this week before they begin the final one-third of the season.
“We have four games in a row that we should win,” Wheeler said. “We just need to start beating these teams we’re supposed to beat and get in a groove.”
GIL 010 500 00 – 6 8 2
SB 103 010 11 – 7 5 1
