The California A’s eliminated the host Quad City Sox of Davenport, Iowa on Monday, picking up their first win against two tough losses.
The A’s came into the tournament ranked #20, and dropped their first two games, 5-4 in 9 innings to #10 ranked Midland Explorers of Michigan and 4-2 to # 11 ranked Dominican Republic.
The Quad City Sox came into the tournament ranked #17, but fell to the #20 squad from California. Sebastian Gervesutti picked up the win on Monday, in his third starts in as many games, tossing a 4 hitter, and striking out 10.
For the A’s a three run 5th inning proved to be the difference in the game, with a 2 run triple by Jason Porto the big blow:
California Athletics 5th – Mandolesi S singled. Tan M flied out to 1b. Pinocchio S struck out. Budke T walked; Mandolesi S advanced to second. Porto J tripled, 2 RBI; Budke T scored; Mandolesi S scored. Porto J scored on a wild pitch. Castillo K flied out to 2b. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
The California A’s will play again Tuesday at 5pm central (3pm California time), against the loser of the #12 Pueblo CO Bandits vs. # 14 Dolan & Murphy, IL.
If Pueblo were to win, the A’s next game would pit two teams that were enroute to a Best of the West tournament championship game matchup back in June, at Santa Barbara, but did not take place as Pueblo had to catch a plane and missed the championship game. The A’s were the 2009 Best of the West champions.
Jeremy Manley is the ace of the Pueblo staff, struck out 20 in his last outing. The hard throwing right hander pitched in the ISF World Championships a month ago for his home New Zealand Black Sox. Manley was injured on Sunday, when hit by a line drive in the leg off the bat of The Farm Tavern’s Donny Hale. If there were questions about his condition, he seems to have answered them with the 20 K performance in his next game.
Box score and play-by-play