The San Marcos baseball team led 6-2 against Buena after Jimmy Brakka hit a grand slam in fifth inning, but the Royals’ bullpen struggled and the Bulldogs came back to win the game 7-6 in eight innings.
“We gave it to them, like Santa Claus,” San Marcos coach Michael Sanford said. “Our pitchers couldn’t throw strikes after the fourth inning.”
Brakka started the game, but had to come off the mound in the fourth because of a sore back. The Royals relievers lacked control and walked seven batters and hit five in the remainder of the game.
With the scored at 6-2, the Royals walked four batters in the fifth inning to make it 6-3. The next inning, more walks and two hit batters closed the gap to 6-5.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, a solo home run by Buena tied the game up and sent it to extra innings.
The Royals still had a golden opportunity to gain back the lead in the top of the eight with runners at first third and no outs, but they missed on five bunts and did not get a run.
Buena scored the deciding run in botton of the inning, to stay within half a game of Dos Pueblos in the Channel League standings.
San Marcos (10-11, 4-6 CL) will play a double-header against Nordhoff tomorrow.
