Corey Micheel topped off a five-run rally from Dos Pueblos’ baseball team on Thursday, smashing a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to give the Chargers their first lead and a 9-7 Channel League victory.
The Chargers trailed by as much as 5-1 but battled back with two runs in the 5th, two more in the sixth and four in the seventh. Jesus Salas started the power surge with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, before Micheel’s blast completed DP’s comeback in the seventh inning.
Micheel’s grand slam cleared the left-center field fence and scored Johnny Corazza, Steven Reveles and Ben York.
Freshman Gabe Speier was the winning pitcher, having pitched in relief from the fourth inning on without giving up an earned run. He put down the Cougars in order in the bottom half of the seventh to finish off Ventura.
“Without Gabe’s performance that seventh inning would have never been possible,” said Chargers head coach Nate Mendoza.
Buena had taken its early lead with a four-run second inning, powered by home runs from Chase Smith and Matt Burke.
Dos Pueblos will take a 4-5 league record into its final three games, all against San Marcos.
DOS PUEBLOS 9, BUENA 7
Dos Pueblos 001 022 4 – 9 5 3
Buena 041 010 0 – 7 6 2
DP – Tirador, Speier(4), and Huthsing, and Salas(4). B – Jacobs, Zeman (7) and Boys. 2b – Corazza. HR – Salas (6th inning, 1 on) Micheel (7th inning, 3 on) Burke (2nd inning, none on) Smith (2nd inning, one on).
