Quick Hits:
- As Billy Zane said in Zoolander: “it’s a walk-off.” My third straight walk-off in three straight games. Gabriel Soto was the hero of this game, smashing a walk-off double to score Victor Hernandez from first base. Soto was fittingly mobbed at second base as he lifted them to a 1-0 win and a sweep over Warren.
- Soto told me he is claustrophobic so being in the bottom of the dogpile was not the most thrilling place to be….for long. He said the “two seconds” he was in there was a fun experience.
- Downey continues as one of the hottest teams in the area. They now have won 11-straight games. Warren has now lost three straight.
- After a groundout, Hernandez hit a single to left to get on base. Then came Soto. He said he was simply trying to move his teammates over and then hopefully Gabriel Llanes on deck could finish the job. But he got the ball right on the barrel and finished the game.
- You don’t need to ask head coach Jess Gonzalez how big of a victory in the San Gabriel Valley League is because he will say the same thing: every win is big in this league. “And when you can get a sweep over any team in this league, it’s huge.”
- As in any 1-0 game, this was a defensive slugfest headlined by some great pitching. Llanes (3-3) was on the mound for Downey and he had a dozen pro scouts watching. On the other side, Trejo was throwing, his first outing since Warren defeated Gahr two weeks ago. Trejo came out after the fourth and was replaced by Steven Nuno. He appeared to be limping a bit, but he was reinserted at shortstop and looked fine from then on.
- While obviously the walk-off double by Soto, the biggest play should be given to Llanes and the Downey defense as a whole for a defensive play made at the top of the seventh. Jose Ruiz hit a clutch triple as the lead off and the Bears were in great position to score. After a groundout, then a walk to put runners at the corners, Brandon Hernandez attempted the exciting squeeze play. Llanes made a great play on the bunt and tossed the ball to catcher Cesar Torres for the tag. Cue rowdy dugout. Llanes said they had been practicing that a few days before and that it came naturally. Watch it below.
- After that big play, Llanes caught a screamer at the mound and got the final out at first. He was visibly fired up after that and so were the Vikings.
- Another play that ended up being huge came in the third inning. With runners at first and third (two outs), Warren’s Joaquin Castillo hit a bloop that was going to drop right behind second and score a run. But shortstop Hernandez made a great dive and catch for the out. Big play.
- Interesting series in the fourth inning with Downey at the plate. Vikings executed a play where on a 2-2 pitch the batter acts as if they just received ball four, and starts walking towards first, letting the guy at first jog to second. Downey pulled this and it worked, but the Warren side was upset that the batter left the batter’s box, meaning it should have been a strike. A Warren assistant ended up getting tossed by the umpire for arguing.
- After Warren’s 7-2 loss on Tuesday to Downey, head coach Scott Pearson called it the worst performance from the Bears in two years. He was much happier about their play on Friday. He said he didn’t feel bad about this loss. His boys played well defensively but just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities. Also gave Downey a lot of credit. He said people thought he was crazy talking about how good Downey was going to be.
- It was a good thing that Soto ended the game when he did because the rain was coming and this game was headed for extra innings.
- Another big series for Downey next week and they take on Gahr. Warren has Dominguez.