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By Gus Untalan

Braves’ Jared Palomo grabs second base while Phillies’ second baseman Tim Cruz tries to line up the catch. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Led by Rico Castro’s two home runs and three RBI, Da Braves bounced back to win Game 3 of the Budweiser Baseball League Championship Series blowing out the Crown Bakery Phillies 16-3 Sunday evening at the Paseo Stadium. Da Braves now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.

“Sometimes it’s good to be a little lucky. I put a good swing on both pitches and lucky enough it went over,” said Castro of Da Braves.

The defending champions wasted no time getting on board in the bottom of the first inning. Pete Guerrero sparked the run hitting a two RBI single to left field that drove home Jared Palomo and Castro for the first runs of the game. Guerrero would reach home a few batters later off a field error by the Phillies. Carl Quintanilla then hit a RBI double to right field that sent home Jim Reyes. Quintanilla scored the final run of the inning off a RBI double by Dominic Cruz to end the inning up 5-0.

Da Braves carried the momentum gained into the bottom of the second inning as Castro whacked his first homerun of the night over the left field wall. Castro cranked his second homerun of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning to almost the exact same area only this time bringing home Palomo along with himself.

McDonald’s Player of the Game Rico Castro

“We wanted to stay focused, limit the errors, limit the walks, and come out and score runs,” said Castro.

With the score 9-3 after six complete innings of play, Da Braves were not done, adding seven more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Cruz sparked another run hitting a RBI to right field that drove home Quintanilla. Cruz would score on the next play off a field error by the Phillies. A few batters later, Guerrero hit another RBI single to right field that sent home BJ Balajadia. To round out the inning, Quintanilla hit a two RBI double to left field that drove home Castro and Glen Fernandez.

Da Braves finished with a combined 16 hits at bat and limited the Phillies to only five hits. Castro, Guerrero, and Quintanilla each finished with three RBIs each.

The Budweiser Baseball League Championship Series continues with Game 4 on Tuesday at the Paseo Stadium. Game time is 7 pm.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Braves’ starting pitcher Cliff Raphael. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Phillies’ Branden Fernandez sent the ball out to right field. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Phillies starting pitcher John San Nicolas. (photo by Jesse Castro)

“Strongly disagreeing with the umpire.” (photo by Jesse Castro)

Braves’ Jared Palomo knocks helmets with teammate Rico Castro for hitting a two-run homer. (photo by Jesse Castro)

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