MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Joaquin Valdez homered twice and drove in five and Scott Sexton (2-2) worked six innings of one-run ball to lead the Barry Buccaneers (23-11) over the St. Thomas Bobcats 8-2 at Feinbloom Field Tuesday night.
Valdez hit a solo homer in the second inning to tie the game. In the fourth, he singled in a go-ahead run, then connected for a three-run homer, his 11th to lead the team, in a five-run fifth inning. Julio Ramos drove in two runs, one in the fifth then the final run in the eighth.
Sexton went six innings in just his second start of the season to earn the win. He allowed just one run on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Brian Santana allowed one run on two hits with a walk and also struck out two in three innings to earn his first save.
Jeff Lara (2-4) was tagged with the loss for the Bobcats (19-21). He allowed just an unearned run on one hit in two innings of work.
After the Bobcats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning with three hits off Sexton, Valdez evened the game 1-1 with a solo homer in the second.
After St. Thomas third baseman Victor Madrazo made back-to-back errors with one out in the fourth, Valdez snaked a single through the shortstop hole to score Matt Petty for a 2-1 lead that the Bucs would not relinquish.
In the fifth, the Bucs sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs. With one out, Petty singled to left and Ryan Garcia drew a walk. Valdez followed with a mammoth blast to left field for his 11th homer. Anthony Iglesias drew a walk and Luis Arrizurieta dribbled a slow roller down the third base line that he beat out for a hit, but Madrazo also threw the ball away at first, allowing Arrizurieta to move to second and Iglesias to score. Ramos delivered a double to left center to score Arrizurieta.
After the Bobcats got one run back in the seventh, Iglesias drew another walk to lead off the eighth and went to second on an infield single by Arrizurieta. Ramos brought Iglesias home with a soft liner over the head of second baseman Jeff Larimer.
The Bucs host the Sharks of Nova Southeastern this weekend at Feinbloom Field with a single game on Friday at 6:00 pm and a twinbill on Saturday, starting at noon. Fans can catch all the action at the park or on the internet on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network.
(04/06/10 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
Barry 8, St. Thomas 2
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St. Thomas.......... 100 000 100 - 2 7 3 (19-21)
Barry...................... 010 105 01X - 8 9 1 (23-11)
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Pitchers: St. Thomas - Michael Arostegui; Jeff Lara(4); Andrew Rivera(6); Ali Salazar(6);
Anthony Perez(7) and Ruy Rodriguez. Barry - Scott Sexton; Brian Santana(7) and Luis Arrizurieta.
Win-Scott Sexton(2-2) Save-Brian Santana(1) Loss-Jeff Lara(2-4) T-2:20 A-117
HR BUB - Joaquin Valdes 2 (11).
Weather: splendid