By Corey Kwok
(San Gabriel) – Andrew Valdez ended a five loss drought in seven prior starts by throwing a four inning three hitter for his first W as Gabrielino beat Rosemead 4-1 Friday in Mission Valley League play.
Vinnie Albelo (4-0) sealed it with three no hit innings as he retired eight of the first ten batters he faced. Keith Clapp gunned down a runner at second for the last out to give Gabrielino their sixth victory in a row. It was also the Eagles’ fifth consecutive season sweep over Rosemead and they have beaten the Panthers 16 straight overall.
Mike Gradillas ripped Valdez’s first pitch for a double, Manuel Garcia walked and Willie Moguel singled to load the bases for Mead in the first inning. But Valdez caught Anthony Salinas looking before serving up a 1-6-4-3 double play. The ball glanced off his glove into shortstop Johnny Moreno’s who tossed it to second baseman Brendan Campbell who fired to first baseman Sarkar for the first of two DPs.
Rosemead’s Isaac Rodriguez went the distance to keep the Panthers close. He threw three perfect innings in the first six frames. Gabrielino scored all four of its runs on two out rallies.
Valdez began the first rally in the second with a double to right that rolled out of play before scoring on a triple by Sarkar. Moreno followed up with a bunt single to plate Sarkar.
Rosemead responded in their half of the second as Raul Chaidez and Rodriguez drew walks from Valdez before a fielder’s choice and a ground ball by Paul Cruz plated Chaidez.
The Panthers threatened in the fourth by loading the sacks with one out on Chaidez’s line single to left in between walks to Javier Sanchez and Joseph Martinez. But they couldn’t cash in as right fielder Albelo gloved a fly ball by Cruz and fired a torpedo to Clapp who in turn tagged the runner at home to end the inning.
In the sixth, the Eagles dialed long distance again to push another run across. Campbell drove a stand up triple to right and was immediately picked up by another Valdez double for the last run. Valdez went two for three at the plate, both two baggers. Pinch hitter Joey Sloane closed out the highlights in the seventh, driving a single to center and before stealing two bases.
Gabrielino is now on top of the MVL by two games and can win their fourth consecutive league championship outright Tuesday at home against El Monte. Angel Acosta should start for the Eagles. Game time is scheduled for 3:15 pm.
G 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 – 4 8 1
R 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 1
G: Valdez, Albelo (5th) / Clapp
R: Rodriguez / Sanchez
3B: Sarkar (G) @ top 2d, RBI 2 out; Campbell (G) @ top 6th solo 2 out
2B: Valdez (G) 2 – top 2d solo 2 out, top 6th RBI 2 out
G RBIs: Sarkar 2, Valdez/Moreno 1
R RBI: Cruz 1
G K’s: Valdez 3, Albelo 1
R K’s: Rodriguez 2
W: Valdez (1-5)
L: Rodriguez (0-3)
Save: Albelo (1st)
Gabrielino 14-9, 10-3
Rosemead 2-17, 2-11
Leave a Reply