ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Down two-games-to-one in the Cherry-Silver Series, Cherry knew it had to play a tremendous game if it wanted to force a fifth and deciding game. It got a great performance from starting pitcher Fernando Fernandez-Beltran and contributions from throughout the lineup as it routed Silver 9-1 on a cold Wednesday night at Lobo Field.
Fernandez-Beltran pitched 4.1 scoreless innings and limited Silver to just four hits. He only ran into trouble in the third when Silver loaded the bases with one out, but he induced an inning-ending double play to end the frame.
“I was just pitching,” he said. “I was staying in my gameplan. Obviously all my pitchers were working, which was fantastic, but (catcher Andrew) Pratt was calling a great game. I don’t think I shook him off once all night. It’s a team win. Everybody did their part. I was able to just do my part to help us win the game.”
It helps when your offense stakes you to a three-run lead after the first inning. Austin Bell and Luis Gonzalez led off the bottom of the first with singles. After a strike out Carl Stajduhar singled home one and Erick Migueles knocked in two. Cherry added another in the second on doubles by Pratt and Chris DeVito. DeVito and Migueles each finished with three hits to lead Cherry.They also led the team with two and three RBIs, respectively.
“We were all there pulling for each other,” Fernandez-Beltran said. “There was a lot of energy in the dugout, making sure everyone had their head in the game. Now we’re able to play for the series win in game five tomorrow.”
Cherry scored one in the fifth, and after a Silver run in the seventh, two in both the eighth and ninth innings. Lane Milligan reached base three times for Silver courtesy of a double and two walks. Reece Weber recorded his third triple of the series in the seventh and scored Silver’s only run on a sac fly by Scottie Graham.
Game Five will be Thursday night at 6 at Lobo Field. Admission is once again free for all fans.
Cherry Routs Silver 9-1, Forces Game Deciding Five
