Hialeah Gardens Continues Strong Start With Win Over American

Watch out for the Gladiators. Hialeah Gardens has come out of the gate strong this season, winning yet again on Thursday, this time, a 4-2 victory over American. The win was the Gladiators fourth straight, and sets them up for a district showdown Friday afternoon with Dr. Krop.

“Today we had a great win against a quality opponent,” said Gladiators Manager Tino Burgos. “Our team has begun to see the result of the hard work they have been putting in.”

Pitching has been the key to Gardens’ early season success. After shutting out their first two opponents, the Glads have not allowed more than three runs in any game. They have given up only five runs in four games.

On Wednesday, Gardens went to a pitcher by committee approach. Max Joseph got the start and went three innings, allowing no runs and only two hits. Eddy Nodarse threw the middle two innings, and Arthur Cordovez closed out the game with two innings of one-hit ball. On the day, the Gladiators pitchers struck out eight while walking only two.

“Although we made some mistakes in the infield,” said Burgos. “Max, Eddy, and Arthur were able to overcome it, stay consistent, and make quality pitches in key moments.”

Offensively, Allan Barrios started the scoring with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first. After that, American starter Edgar Villarreal settled in and shut down the Gladiators until the fourth.

A one-out walk to Mike Ramirez, an error, and a double off the bat of Erick Nunez gave Gardens a 3-2 lead.

The Patriots had taken their only lead in the game in the top of the fourth when they plated two runs. A couple of errors helped fuel the two-run rally.

The Galdiators tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, and then closed out the win with little threat in the seventh.

American’s record drops to 2-2, as the Patriots prepare for a non-district game with Gulliver Thursday, before a big district match-up at home versus Hialeah Friday.

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