The Rattlers’ pitchers were relentless against the Mavericks on Friday while the offense scored 7 runs that could not be overcome. Starting pitcher, Darden Wetherell, displayed confidence on the mound, painting the corners and pumping it into the umpire’s tight strike zone. Wetherell faced 24 batters in 6 innings, striking out 3, walking 0, and giving up 5 hits and 1 (earned) run. With bases loaded and 1 out for the Mavericks, Wetherell got the Rattlers out of the top of the 4th inning, forcing a sac fly to Michael Yzaguirre in CF and a ground out from Wetherell to Isaiah Robledo at first base. Reagan’s defense was solid including a double play in the top of the 5th turned by Caleb Crider at third base to Jeter Battles at second then Robledo at first. Cody Pictrowski closed out the game for Reagan, pitching 14 pitches to the last 3 batters and striking out all of them. Pictrowski’s fastball was humming enough to fool the Mavs with his commanding curve ball.
Reagan’s offense went up 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd. Elias Leon got on by an error on a ground ball to the pitcher, then back-to-back textbook bunts were laid down by Ryland Rangel and” Big Mike” Yzaguirre that loaded the bases. After Caleb Cappuccio put the ball in play to third base, courtesy runner, Keegan Baldwin, was out at home, but Rangel scored on a fielding error. “Big Mike” would go on to score on a ball in play to SS from Battles, and Cappuccio scored off an RBI single from Robledo. The Rattlers scored 3 more runs in the 3rd started by a hard ground ball single to RF from Leon followed by a line drive single to LF from Rangel. “Big Mike” sac bunted to the pitcher to move the runners, and Cappuccio hit a 2 run bomb to LF. Javi Cuevas got the last RBI of the inning with a line drive single to LF. “Big Mike” would get the only RBI in the 4th with a sac fly to CF.
Reagan racked up 4 stolen bases in the game with Caden Crofts collecting 2, Battles 1, and Yzaguirre 1.
The Rattlers take on the Johnson Jaguars on Tuesday, April 16 at Blossom Athletic Center @ 5:00 pm. Tickets are available at https://my.hometownticketing.com/agency/3fc66759-ed24-4d1f-bd21-d74fa9cf7641
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