Lynn Shore shuts down East Lynn offense in City Series

LYNN – The Lynn Shore Braves relied on strong pitching and timely hitting to advance in the City Series with a 7-0 win over the East Lynn Giants Thursday at Kiley Park.
The Braves will have a busy schedule ahead if they continue to win, as they face the Pine Hill Reds on Friday at 5:45 at Kiley Park. If they can top the Reds, they?ll play again on Saturday. The Giants were knocked out of the series with the loss.
Walks did in the Giants, and the Braves were able to take full advantage of the East Lynn pitchers? command issues.
?You?re not going to win a game when you walk 12 batters,” said East Lynn coach Steve Curley.
The Braves jumped out to a quick lead in the first that they wouldn?t relinquish. Antonio Smith led off the game by hitting a chopper to the infield that slipped under the glove of the shortstop. Aiven Cabral drew a one-out walk and Damian Guadarrama singled to load the bases. Back-to-back walks issued to Ray Contreras and Jeremies Brito led to two runs. Both Contreras and Brito would score to give Lynn Shore a 4-0 lead.
Another walk to lead off the second would be all for East Lynn starter Sannel Castro, was relieved by Anthony Mateo. Mateo allowed a RBI single to Yordy Contreras to increase Lynn Shore?s lead to five runs, but settled in nicely over the middle innings, striking out five in 4 ? innings.
?We were very patient at the plate,” said Lynn Shore coach Paul Hartford. “We didn?t swing at bad pitches.”
Lynn Shore starter Ray Contreras kept the East Lynn hitters from starting any rallies in the first two innings. But in the third, the Giants got something going. Manuel Germosen started the inning off with East Lynn?s first hit. With two outs, Castro drew a walk and Ryan Curley singled to load the bases. But the Giants couldn?t find the elusive big hit, and a strikeout ended the inning.
The Giants threatened again in the fourth as two walks put runners on second and third with two outs, but Contreras got another big strikeout to end the frame.
?We had some pretty good opportunities with some of our biggest hitters up, but couldn?t get any timely hitting,” said Curley.
Contreras was lifted after the fourth and finished with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
?He was phenomenal,” Hartford said. “He hasn?t pitched much this year, but he came in and did exactly what we expected him to do.”
Cabral tossed an inning and a third and Yordy Contreras finished thing outs in the sixth. It was just the second time Yordy had pitched all season, but he looked strong, getting an out on a fielder?s choice and striking out the game?s last batter.
With a big game coming up against Pine Hill, it was crucial that the Braves save some of their arms.
?We have a lot of pitchers on this team,” said Hartford. “Tomorrow, the only pitchers who won?t be available are Brito and Ray (Contreras).”
The Braves tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth on a walk and a hit batter. Robert Galvis and Smith scored on Cabral?s two-run double. Curley came in to finish things out for East Lynn, and though he allowed a couple of inherited runners to score, he got a strikeout and groundout to avoid any further damage.
Though the Braves will live to see another day in the City Series, it was the end of the road for the Giants after two consecutive losses.
?It shows how good you have to be in this tournament,” said Curley. “(Lynn Shore?s) a good team, and I think they?ll do well against Pine Hill. But it was a good season, we did very well. I?m proud of my team.”
Katie Morrison can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KatieMo61.