Garcia Wins Pitchers Battle As Warriors Top Patriots

Westwood Christian ace Danny Garcia had a fire lit under his belt Tuesday night.

The senior left-hander was making his third start of the season but had yet to factor in the decision of those games.

Meanwhile he was facing the same Florida Christian team that had rallied against him for a late victory last season.

Then the game was delayed an hour when the FHSAA officials were late to arrive.

By the time Garcia finally took the mound, there was a beast built up inside of him ready to be unleashed. The Warriors then rode Garcia’s monster performance for a tough 2-1 victory over the host Patriots in a game played at Florida Christian High in Olympia Heights.

“They are a very competitive team, and they fight to the end. But I just wanted some revenge,” Garcia said. “It’s very good to come out and get the victory.”

The future Miami Hurricane cruised through six innings on 89 pitches, limiting the Patriots to a pair of hits and one earned run while walking four. Working with a nasty fastball that hitters struggled to catch up with all night Garcia picked up seven strikeouts on the night, including a stretch of five in a row over the first three innings.

“He pitched very, very well obviously,” Florida Christian Manager Chris Brigman said. “We knew what the game plan was; we knew he was going to try to establish the inner half. He did a great job. We’ve got some things we’ve got to work on but I don’t want to take any credit away from Westwood and Danny Garcia, because he pitched very well tonight.”

As a bit of icing on the cake Garcia also made the play of the game on defense when he dove low across the infield grass to snare a pop out on a foul bunt attempt in the first inning.

The Warriors (5-1-1) staked their ace with all the run support he would need with a pair in the top of the third inning.

Westwood loaded the bases against starter Chris Pelaez when Roberto Hernandez bounced a single through the left side and Anthony Gonzalez and Joe Suarez drew back-to-back walks.

Anthony Penas drew a walk to push Hernandez across the plate while also ending the night for Pelaez.

Catcher Claudio Ruberia followed with a sacrifice flyout to send Gonzalez home and close out the scoring for Westwood on this night.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases to lead the Warriors.

With Pelaez on a pitch count while working back from an injury, junior Michael Campos was aware that he would be following their starter onto the mound.

While the scenario he faced once on the hill is a daunting task for most pitchers, coming in with the bases loaded and only one out actually served as a comfort zone for Campos.

“That’s kind of my specialty,” Campos said. “Ever since I was younger my dad was my pitching coach and put me in tough situations. It’s kind of my thing, coming in with the bases loaded. I know what my job is and I just try to keep us in the game.”

The right-hander remained true to his claim, retiring twelve in a row to keep the Patriots (5-3) in the ball game.

The Warriors’ right-handed lineup had been patient against the lefty Pelaez, but against the righty Campos they became more aggressive and true to the team’s nature of attacking when they have the lead.

“It made me want to challenge them more,” Campos admitted. “When you see a team coming at you, you want to challenge them. I kept to the game plan, but when I was on my count I threw what I wanted to and made them adjust to me.”

Campos closed out the final three and two third innings while allowing just one hit and striking out seven, including striking out the side in the sixth inning.

“I can’t say enough about the great job he did tonight,” Brigman said. “He kept us in it.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning designated hitter Michael Fernandez capitalized on Danny Garcia’s lone mistake of the night, as the junior drove a high fastball 355 feet over the left field fence for a solo home run that cut the deficit to 2-1.

Garcia did not allow another runner to reach second base before turning the ball over to junior closer Andres Rivera, who pitched a scoreless frame to close out the victory and earn his second save of the season.

Pelaez took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs, falling to 0-1 in his first action on the year. The left-hander recorded five strikeouts in his two and a third innings of work.

Former Patriots star and current Seattle Mariners prospect Denny Almonte threw out the ceremonial first pitch for his home team, before being treated to a game of baseball at its finest.

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