By Tim Peterson
(Temple City) – Dean Balut’s bunt single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Jakobe Henriquez to give Temple City a 5-4 comeback, extra innings victory over La Salle Tuesday.
In the eighth Henriquez led off with a hard ground ball to second base that was mishandled and then thrown wildly past first allowing Henriquez to take second. With one out Henriquez was balked to third and Arturo Escalante was walked intentionally. Balut then laid down a perfect bunt allowing Henriquez to score easily for the game winner.
Temple City was playing catch up all game long after La Salle scored four runs in the first inning on five hits and a walk.
TC got one back in the bottom of the first when Eric Taylor reached on an error, worked his way to third on a walk and a wild pitch and then scored on a wild pitch.
The Rams added two more in the third on a two run single by Jared Cuadres. Ryan Salinger also had a base hit and scored a run in the inning.
Down 4-3 Temple City got even in the fourth. Taylor doubled to left, took third on a base hit by Balut and scored on a sacrifice fly.
It stayed that way until the eighth when the Rams won it.
Nathan Mena started for Temple City and allowed the four runs before being relieved by Cuadres in the second inning. Cuadres completely shut the Lancers down allowing just two hits and a walk over the next six and one-third innings. Cuadres retired the side in order in three of those innings.
The Rams, now 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the Rio Hondo League, will take on league opponent South Pasadena on Thursday. La Salle fell to 11-8 overall.
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