Sox go down quietly to Yankees again
In the movie “Catch Me If You Can,” the character of Frank Abagnale Sr. tells his son that the Yankees always win because their opponent can't take their eyes off the pinstripes.
He was referring to the New York Yankees, but for some reason, the Gold Sox have been similarly mesmerized by the Maxim Yankees the last two nights.
Maxim of San Jose shut down Yuba-Sutter for the second straight game, this time a 7-1 nonleague win Saturday night in Marysville.
The Gold Sox (20-8) have lost four of six and dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
“We came here and lost three close games last year,” said Yankees manager Jeff Thomas. “We have a lot more depth this year. I think we figured out that we didn't have enough college guys. It seems like it takes the ex-pro or ex-college guys about four weeks to find their groove.”
Yuba-Sutter starter Logan Ardis (1-2) allowed seven runs in 31/3 innings, although only two of those were earned. Ardis did not help himself with six walks and one wild pitch.
Four of those runs came in the first. After one was out, Anthony Contreras walked and Brandon Macchi singled. Joe Perry grounded to second baseman Ryan Angel for a tailor-made double play. However, Angel bobbled the ball and his throw to second was late, and everyone was safe.
Scott Niahue followed with a walk, forcing home Contreras. Luke Neal grounded out with Macchi scoring, and then Amador Solis really made it hurt with a two-run single to make it 4-0.
“To be honest, I thought Logan threw fairly well today. I saw some improvement,” said Gold Sox manager Brad Peek. “He had some pretty close calls on balls and strikes, and we didn't really help him on the field. When you're struggling, you need those things to go your way.”
Maxim (9-8), which has won five straight, scored another unearned run in the third and two more in the fourth on Macchi's run-scoring double and Perry's RBI single.
The Gold Sox couldn't manage much against Maxim right-handed starter Gary Daley, a former Nevada Union High standout who now throws for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Daley went six innings, allowing five hits and one run.
The Gold Sox broke up the shutout in the sixth when Daley walked Cameron Shick with the bases loaded to force home Mark Steinbeck. Yuba-Sutter had a chance for more, but Daley induced Jason Searle to hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
For the second straight night, Yuba-Sutter got excellent work from the bullpen. Wes Porter relieved Ardis in the fourth and did not allow a run and only two hits in 42/3 innings. Porter fanned five and walked two. Gary Simmons pitched a spotless ninth.
Porter (Yuba College) learned this week that he'll attend and play for San Jose State as a walk-on next year.
It won't get any easier in the series finale today. Maxim is expected to throw Anthony Ray, a second-team, All American from Santa Clara. Ray nearly shut out the Santa Barbara Foresters in the semifinals of the Best of the West Tournament at Stanford last weekend.
“We have to come ready to play better tomorrow,” Peek said. “They pitched and played defense better than us today. We have the right guy on the mound tomorrow in Vince DeCoito.”
Notes: The Gold Sox have only lost by four or more runs four times in two years ... Porter made his team-leading 13th appearance of the season ... Shortstop Kyle Maunus came out of the game in the third inning after splitting his finger after an attempted bunt and was sent to the hospital for stitches ... Today's game will end at 9:35 p.m. (regardless of the score) to accommodate Fourth of July fireworks at 9:45.
