Valhalla, N.Y. – The Monroe baseball team had a 3-0 lead at one point in their game against ASA on Thursday at Westchester Community College, but they couldn't hold it. Despite a solo home run from
Alex De La Cruz, they lost 5-4.
Tony Hernandez got the complete-game loss and is now 7-1 on the season. He allowed just a pair of earned runs and struck out 12 in the defeat.
The Mustangs took a 2-0 lead in the third.
Ramger Iglesias reached on a bunt single, stole second, and tagged and went to third when De La Cruz fouled out to first base.
Cam Crabbe brought him in on an RBI single to right. On the play, the outfielder threw behind Crabbe to try and pick him off, but the ball went over the firstbaseman's head, allowing Crabbe to move to second. He came around on a double to right-center by
Isaiah Torres. Monroe led 2-0 after the third inning.
Two innings later, De La Cruz connected on his third homer of the season, tying him for second-best on the team. The solo shot was a blast over the wall in left-center and put Monroe ahead, 3-0. Meanwhile, Hernandez cruised through the first four innings, allowing no runs and just three hits.
The Avengers struck back in their half of the fifth inning, scoring three times and tying the game. Monroe gave them four outs in the inning as the leadoff batter struck out but reached first on a passed ball. He later came in to score an unearned run.
ASA added another run in the sixth and took a 4-3 lead to the seventh. Iglesias nearly manufactured the tying run all by himself. He singled to left. Stole second and promptly stole third. Finally, a single to center by
Endy Villalona plated Iglesias and evened the game at 4-4.
The score stayed there into the ninth.
Ronald Jackson laced a one-out double down the right field line.
Josue Perez came in to run for him. But Perez was stranded at second as the next two batters struck out.
ASA got a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error by Hernandez. He later came in to score the deciding run in the 5-4 loss.
These two teams will continue their series on Friday, April 29 in a doubleheader at Westchester Community College. The first pitch is slated for noon.
