Posted on 20 March 2014 by La Habra Journal
Gabe Armstrong threw five innings of work, but did not factor into the decision as Sonora came from behind to beat Troy, 3-2 at Sonora, Wednesday afternoon.
by Jeremiah Girard
La Habra Journal
The Sonora baseball team opened up Freeway League play with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Troy, Wednesday afternoon at Sonora High.
Junior Gabe Armstrong was given the start for the Raiders over JP Sarro, who has been in the starting rotation since last season as a sophomore.
“We went with Gabe because of the way he has pitched in preseason,” Sonora head coach Pat Tellers said. “JP has not quite been where we want him, so we are giving him some more time and plan on having him in the rotation down the stretch.”
Armstrong gave the Raiders five strong innings. He gave up two runs on five hits, two walks and struck out six batters. He did not have his best stuff early and both runs came in the third inning.
“I definitely think that I could have pitched better,” Armstrong said. “I put myself in some bad spots and elevated a few pitches. They got those two runs in the third but I feel that I settled down pretty well.”
Those two runs came on a bases-loaded single by sophomore Jonathan Banuelos. He saw a pitch from Anderson that was elevated in the zone and poked it into right field for two RBI.
The Raiders (4-4, 1-0) answered back with one in the fourth inning when Justin Mellano drove in Andrew Piraino with a single into right-center field.
Armstong was pulled after the fifth inning and replaced by Sarro, who dominated in his two innings pitched. In those innings, he only faced six batters and struck out five of them.
“I just wanted to go out and perform,” Sarro said. “I was a little wild early, but I settled down and I was hitting spots nicely.”
The Raiders won the game with a big sixth inning. They managed to load the bases. Mellano, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, tied the game with a sacrifice fly,
The bases were loaded again after Henry Bustamante was intentionally walked.
Evan Sonny then earned a bases-loaded walk to drive in the eventual game-winning run.
Troy starting pitcher Evan Frobisher went five-plus innings and gave up three runs, only one earned, on five hits and four walks, while striking out four.
The win puts Tellers one win away from 400 in his 24-year career at Sonora.
The Raiders will try to help their coach reach the milestone Friday, against Fullerton at Sonora. Evan Sonny will take the mound.
