Miami Christian Downs Brito 8-3 in District 2A-15 Match-up

Miami Christian may still feel the pain from last season’s defeat in the playoffs to Miami Brito, but Wednesday’s 8-3 victory over its new district foe should ease the hurt.

Jason Gutierrez started on the mound for Miami Christian and had no difficulty through two innings, shutting down Miami Brito’s first six batters in a row. But it was Brito that found the scoreboard first. A run came home after a couple of walks and a throwing error on an attempted steal.

On the other side of the field Richie Sotolongo pitched against his former team for Brito and he gave up only one hit trough the first three innings

But his homecoming was spoiled in the fourth when David Salqueiro singled up the middle. Salqueiro came in on Giordano Corrales’ RBI bunt and Brian Gonzalez opened up the game with a double that knocked in two runs and gave Miami Christian a 3-1 lead. It was all Miami Christian from there.

“We made a lot of mistakes defensively and opened up the flood gates,” Miami Brito coach Pedro Guerra said. “We’re playing good ball games, and then we can’t make a play.”

Anthony Diaz bunted his way to first in the bottom of the fifth and he got knocked in by a hit by Frank De Izaguirre. The inning progressed, Gonzalez struck again with an RBI single, and suddenly Miami Christian had an 8-1 lead.

But Miami Brito wouldn’t go down easy. Edbert Dominquez was hit by a pitch before coming home on a wild pitch. Gutierrez allowed a few runners on in the sixth before giving up an RBI to Bolano, bringing in Bryan Hernandez. Gutierrez left the game allowing three runs while striking out two.

Richard Barbella relieved Gutierrez in the sixth with two out already, but Barbella’s right-handed side arm wind-up struck out Brito’s leading hitter, Andy Herrera, to end the inning.

“Our pitching was phenomenal as usual, and our hitting came around,” Miami Christian assistant coach Chaves said.

Barbella led Miami Christian into the seventh with an 8-3 lead, and after two quick outs, Miami Christian was one out away from the victory. Barbella struck out Dominquez in three pitches to end the game.

Although Miami Christian won, they know everything changes in the postseason.

“Playoff baseball is whole different animal,” Chavas said. “It’s good to win these games early in the season, but it’s all preparation to get them mentally ready for the playoffs.”

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