Mendoza’s homer delivers 4-1 win for Cardinals

Nick Mendoza slugged a three-run home run in the sixth inning to

cap a four-run rally by the Cardinals and lead them to a 4-1 victory over

the Angels in Ocean View Little League Majors Division play.

The Cardinals (3-1) trailed 1-0 through five innings, but came up with

their four-run comeback in their final at-bat (top of the sixth) to pull

out the win. They were down to their final out with nobody on base, when

Jeff Mollica doubled, and two walks followed, to load the bases. Mollica

tied the game by stealing home, setting the stage for Mendoza.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead behind four shutout innings from pitcher

Justin Chambers and Jon Grothe’s RBI. Scott Melchert topped the Angels

with two hits.

Cardinal second baseman Cole Shandrick stamped out a potential big second

inning for the Angels with an inning ending defensive stop with the bases

loaded.

In other games:

Dodgers 5, Mariners 2

Like the Cardinals, the Dodgers (3-1) trailed, but rallied late to get

the victory. A four-run fifth inning propelled the Dodgers, who were led

by Jeff Lambert’s RBI double and the pitching of Greg Gonzalez and

Stephen Donohue. Charlie Martin and Nick Orendorff both singled and

scored, Kent Redell tripled, and Thomas Yoo doubled for the Mariners.

Reds 3, Astros 2

Hank Conger homered (his fourth of the season) and also doubled, and Jeff

Van Doornum singled and scored to lead the unbeaten Reds (4-0); Dallas

Walters pitched a four-hitter for the Astros.

MINOR A DIVISION

Red Sox 17, Tigers 10

TJ Israel’s home run highlighted his four-hit performance, Mike Murray

had three hits, and Ellis Jackson produced two doubles for the Red Sox.

Reds 11, Rangers 6

Billy Allen had three hits, Andy Pierce doubled and singled, and Nickolas

Rivello had a two-RBI single for the Reds.

Pirates 10, Brewers 9

The Pirates scored nine runs in the first inning, but didn’t secure the

victory until the game’s final out. Chaz Cameli made a key defensive stop

and pitchers Chris Nowlin and Daniel Williams had enough to hold off the

Brewers, whose pitchers, Brian Roberts and Scott Baxter, limited the

Pirates to just one run over the final five innings. Daniel Arcenio Hall

doubled and singled for the winners.

MINOR B DIVISION

Royals 12, Cardinals 8

Pitchers Fredy Barron and Michael Wilkerson combined for nine strikeouts

for the Royals.

Orioles 13, Pirates 5

Geoff Davis tripled and singled with four RBI, Sam Sedivy had a key hit,

and starting pitcher Hayden Toney struck out six in three inning pitched

for the Orioles.