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Martinez Sturgeon Edge San Rafael Pacifics, 3-2
SAN RAFAEL, California — Paul Carreno delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning, and the Martinez Sturgeon used a creative series of pitching and defensive switches to hold off the San Rafael Pacifics, 3-2, at Albert Park.
The Pacifics took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Calan Zemaitis scored on a throwing error. Martinez answered with two runs in the third. Andrew Curran singled home Michael Pavelchak to tie the game, and Kyle Nortons fielders choice brought home Nick Thomson for a 2-1 advantage.
San Rafael tied the game in the bottom of the third after Aki Buckson singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Zemaitis then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-2.
The deciding run came in the sixth. Jacob Klinovsky was hit by a pitch, Josiah Collado singled, and Carreno followed with a run-scoring single that brought Klinovsky home and gave Martinez a 3-2 lead.
Repplingers matchup maneuvering: Martinez manager Matthew Repplinger twice moved starting pitcher Brayden Collett from the mound to the outfield instead of removing him from the game, allowing the Sturgeon to maximize lefty-on-lefty matchups while preserving Colletts ability to return to the mound.
In the fourth inning, Collett moved to center field while Michael Pavelchak came in to pitch against Keith Whitaker . After Pavelchak retired Whitaker, Collett returned to the mound in the fifth. Repplinger used the same concept again in the seventh, shifting Collett to right field while Kyle Norton pitched to Whitaker. Collett then returned to the mound in the eighth, with Norton moving to right field. The unusual double switch allowed Martinez to attack specific hitters without permanently ending Colletts outing.
Collett worked 6 1/3 innings in total, allowing three hits and two runs, only one earned, while striking out 10 and walking four. Pavelchak retired both batters he faced, Norton recorded one out, and Derek Murphy finished the game with 1 2/3 perfect innings and four strikeouts.
Murphy was dominant after entering with a runner at second and one out in the eighth. He retired John Bicos and Zemaitis to end that threat, then struck out Jaxson Bates, Jacob Savoy and pinch hitter Gino Hutchinson in order in the ninth.
Martinez held San Rafael to three hits and struck out 15 Pacifics hitters. Curran, Norton and Carreno each drove in a run for the Sturgeon, while Klinovsky doubled and scored the winning run.
San Rafael starter Jake Dent allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings and struck out seven. Nick Pazos, Syler Pillsbury and Chase Barsotti combined to allow only two hits and no runs over the final 3 2/3 innings, but the Pacifics were unable to solve the Martinez pitching staff after the third inning.
Line Score
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinez Sturgeon | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| San Rafael Pacifics | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
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