By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
Alex Salas threw six innings of one-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one in Los Fresnos’ 7-3 win to even its District 32-6A series with Harlingen South on Tuesday night in a brisk two hours and five minutes.
“He did a great job, I think he was somewhere around 90 pitches,” Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said. “He did a great job for us, he held the lead when he had to and we supported him with some runs.”
Hawks left fielder CJ Grimaldo singled to lead off the game, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on infield single by center fielder David Torres and scored on wild pitch to put Harlingen South ahead 1-0 in the first.
Salas came back to strike out shortstop Chase Roberts and designated hitter Nick Muniz, and he retired first baseman Luke Castellanos on a dribbler to third baseman Carlos Perez. He retired seven straight Harlingen South hitters from the fourth inning through the sixth.
The Falcons responded immediately, sending nine men to the plate in a three-run first.
Roberts mishandled a sharply hit ground ball up the middle by designated hitter Jorge Gonzalez that loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first.
Harlingen South starting pitcher Carlos Martinez had four walks in the first, including one that scored first baseman Victor Loa to put Los Fresnos on the scoreboard and tie the game.
“We had too many errors on routine plays,” Harlingen South coach Chris Gracia said. “We kept giving them extra outs, and with a team like that you can’t do that. It’s as simple as that.”
Martinez’s night was cut short after one inning, and Castellanos pitched the remainder of the game.
Center fielder Germain Castillo roped a double down the line on the first pitch he saw from Castellanos with two outs in the second inning.
Salas followed with a single, and left fielder Lee Trevino pulled an RBI double down the right field line to put Los Fresnos ahead 4-1. A sacrifice fly to center from Perez scored pinch-runner Sammy De Leon, and Castellanos was called for a balk to score Trevino from third and give the Falcons a commanding 6-1 lead through three innings.
“Lee’s been the guy who’s been here and there hitting,” Morales said. “Lee’s the guy that we kind of go around with.
“We’re just playing fundamental ball like we’ve been working on in practice. The kids are working hard, and they know the situations and what to do.”
Catcher Kike Alvarado helped the Hawks chip away at the lead with a sacrifice fly to center in the fourth that scored Muniz. Isaac Franco’s throwing error at third base pulled Loa off the base at first to score Castellanos and bring the deficit to 6-3.
Franco redeemed himself with a leadoff double in the fourth, and Castillo’s double plated Franco to put the Falcons up 7-3.
Salas retired six straight Hawks before handing the ball to Franco, who closed out the game with a scoreless seventh.