After giving up four runs in the first inning, Shawn Lopez got
redemption with his bat with five RBI to help the Cardinals
continue on their hot streak and defeat the Santa Cruz Cubs
13-5.
By Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Gilroy – After giving up four runs in the first inning, Shawn Lopez got redemption with his bat with five RBI to help the Cardinals continue on their hot streak and defeat the Santa Cruz Cubs 13-5.
The Cardinals will now be in the Majors Tournament of Champions finals, needing to win twice to take home the crown.
Lopez, who had a perfect batting performance said, “I was just trying to make contact to make up for the four runs I gave up in the first inning.”
Grady Thielsen hit a three-run blast to cap off a four run first inning for the Cubs, but they were only able to muster one more run the whole game.
The Cardinals responded quickly going up 5-4 on the Cubs. The team scored five runs on three base hits, before the Cubs were able to get their first out.
With two runners on base, Jordan Jimenez hit a single that scored a run. Lopez brought in two more runners with a single and later in the inning Mario Talamante brought in two with a single of his own. The result was a Cardinal 5-4 lead after one.
The Cardinals scored at least one run in every inning, as they continued to swing the bats well.
“That’s the strong thing, everybody’s hitting,” Cardinals manager Brian Chrisman said.
Three runs were scored in the second inning, two more in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth inning. The team didn’t need to take its final at-bats in the sixth.
Lopez, who got motivation at the plate from his pitching performance, had a RBI single that brought in one run and in the fifth with two on and two out, he smacked a single on the first pitch he saw giving the Cardinals a 13-5 lead.
The hit of the game came in the third inning when Bryant Cid, who was walked in his first two at-bats, crushed the first pitch he saw for a two-run home run to centerfield.
“My coaches always say, just be aggressive on the first pitch,” Cid said. “After being walked the first two times, I just had to take it. It was right down the middle.”
Just as impressive as the Cardinals’ hitting was their defense. Lopez thanked Jimenez for picking him and the team up and pitching a good game in relief. Jimenez pitched five innings, throwing 41 pitches and only giving up one run.
In the top of the fifth inning with one out and one on, Cid made a sweet individual double-play, catching a line drive hit right at him and then firing the ball to first before the runner could tag up.
Jimenez, who said he was surprised that Cid caught the ball because it was hit so hard, let out a loud scream before the team ran back into the dugout.
“It was a hard shot,” Cid said. “I didn’t even see him, I just threw it back to first.”
Since the Gilroy Cardinals have lost once already, they will need to win two games in a row to win the TOC. The quest continues tonight at 6pm at field A-1 of the Gilroy Sports Complex.
Gilroy Minors Season Ends
The Gilroy American team was eliminated from the Tournament of Champions on Tuesday night after losing to Aptos 8-6 at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz.
Aptos went up 2-0 in the first inning, but Gilroy responded with two runs in the bottom stanza. Although Aptos controlled most of the game, Gilroy American was down by just two runs with the bases loaded and two outs in the final at-bat. A fantastic play by the shortstop prevented a rally.
Joe Vanni and Ethan Wrenn shared pitching duties for Gilroy, keeping the game in reach throughout. Brennan Gil went 3-3, including two perfect bunts, and Trever Marquez went 2-3. Raul Tovar and Zachary Green each made stellar defensive plays in the field.
“We had a great season and ended on a high note,” said Gilroy coach Vic Vanni, “It will be a season I will never forget.”
