Barrios, Southwest Miami Rally To Take Down Miami Sunset 5-4

The Miami Sunset Knights lost an 8A District 15 game Thursday afternoon after leading by three runs on their home field. The Knights produced early, but gave up 10 hits in the 5-4 loss to Southwest Miami.

Southwest earned its ninth win of the year (9-6 overall) and improved to 4-3 in district play while playing without four of its marquee starters.

“It’s a good win for us,” Southwest Miami coach Jose Torres said. “It was a hard-fought game and every time we come here, it’s tough and they battle.”

Southwest fell behind early after giving up a run in the first inning. The Knights’ Jorge Lopez carried the momentum into the second inning with a double, Jeremy Sinski then brought in Lopez with his own double.

Michael Paez walloped a solo home run in the third to gave the Knights a 3-0 lead, but Southwest ace Marcos Barrios struck out the next three batters to retire the inning.

The Eagles counterattacked in the fourth. Luis Gutierrez ignited a hitting spree for the Eagles with a single to right field, and Bryan Carreras got on with a base hit. Alexis Cuevas then drove in Gutierrez with an RBI double to give the Eagles their first run. Miami Sunset called on Austin Comensanas to relieve after the Knights starting pitcher walked the Eagles’ next batter, loading the bases. Arturo Paula had the Eagles’ fourth hit of the inning after he beamed a single past the shortstop, bringing in Cuevas to tie the game at 3.

Marcos Barrios gave up a single to the Knights Alex Bravo to start the fourth, but Barrios regained his composure and struck out three more to strand Bravo on base. Barrios stranded seven on the afternoon.

Daniel Gray gave the Eagles their first lead at 4-3 with an RBI single in the sixth. The Eagles tallied three hits in the sixth but left two men on base.

Barrios gave up a single to Miami Sunset’s Andy Perez to start the bottom of the sixth and then walked two more batters and gave up a run before loading the bases. After Torres strolled over to the mound, it seemed it was time for a tired Barrios to be relieved, but Torres showed his faith in his senior and let Barrios finish the inning. Barrios returned the favor with two strikeouts before getting the Knights to pop-up for the final out of the inning. Barrios recorded 11 strikeouts on the day and allowed just two walks.

“He’s a horse,” Torres said. “He’s been through that before, so he doesn’t get fazed by situations, and he’s our ace and that’s what you do with your ace, you show confidence in him.”

With the game tied 4-4 to start the seventh, the Eagles’ Bryan Carreras struck a clutch hit for a single before Cuevas singled to left field for his second hit of the game, putting Carreras on third. Alex Perera hit a difficult grounder towards second to bring in Carreras for the lead. Barrios was relieved by Zack Gonzalez to start the seventh.

Gonzalez forced two quick-pop ups for outs before striking out the final batter to get the save and the victory and give the Eagles their fourth 8A District 15 win, putting them one game behind the Ferguson Falcons. Southwest Miami will challenge the Falcons at Ferguson next Thursday.

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