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By Gus Untalan
The Braves added another one to the win column blowing out the 76 Cardinals 13–1 Sunday night in the Budweiser Baseball League at the Paseo Stadium. The game was called after seven complete innings of play due to the ten-run mercy rule.
The Braves came out of the gate on fire scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. With two runners on base, first baseman Jimmy Reyes cranked the ball to deep center field that drove home Carl Quintanilla and Rico Castro on the two RBI single. Reyes would then score on the next at bat off a RBI single by Alan Sarmiento to left field.
Errors by the Cardinals in the top of the second inning allowed to Braves to advance their lead. The Cardinals committed a total of four errors in the inning, eight in the entire game. An overthrow to third base allowed Tony Doyle to reach home safely. A few batters later, Quintanilla drove home left fielder John Salas on a RBI single to left field. To round out the inning, Quintanilla would then steal home on a field error by 76.
The Braves continued to take advantage of errors by the Cardinals adding plenty of insurance in the top of the third. While on third base, a balk by Cardinals pitcher Kyle Arce sent home Braves catcher Pete Guerrero. On the next bat, a RBI single by Salas to right field drove home Doyle. Salas later touched home plate on a field error by the Cardinals. A few batters, a pass ball allowed second baseman T.J. Sarmiento to add a run of his own. To close out the inning, center fielder B.J. Balajadia ran home on a fielder’s choice to give the Braves a commanding 11–1 lead.
The Braves added two more runs in the fifth and seventh innings to total their score at 13. In the fifth inning, Chad Palomo ran home on a throwing error at first. In the seventh inning, John Sarmiento reached home on a fielder’s choice.
The lone run for the Cardinals came in the bottom of the first inning as center fielder Jarred Alerta ran home off a RBI by Jesse Alerta.
In the win, Braves relief pitcher John Pangelinan finished with three strikeouts after only two innings of play. John Sarmiento finished two-for-two at bat with a double and one run scored for the Braves. In the loss, Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Arce finished with two strikeouts.
The Braves now improve to 2–0 while the Cardinals drop to 1–1.
BBL action continues Tuesday as the Bank of Guam Athletics face off in a much-anticipated matchup against the Crown Bakery Phillies. The game is at 7 p.m. at the Paseo Stadium.
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(AP/Carlos Osorio)
