Pitching keys D-backs’ narrow win over Giants

The Diamondbacks settled down after allowing three first-inning runs

to the Giants and prevailed, 4-3, in Costa Mesa National Little

League Majors division action.

Troy McClanahan came on in relief of starter Gavin Montague to

post five strikeouts in the final three innings for the D-backs.

Montague struck out three in three innings.

The D-back defense held off the Giants. Ryan Churney made a

running catch of a fly ball to right field and threw out a runner

trying advance to third base on the play. Then, Joshua Erno caught a

ball in left field for an out in the sixth and McClanahan finished

the inning with two strikeouts.

McClanahan and Erno each singled twice and scored a run while

Montague had a hit and also scored a run. Andrew Roth doubled and

scored with Chase Harrison and Sean Anderson each tallying hits.

In Minor A play:

* D-backs 2, Padres 0

Steven Hildebrand gave up only one walk and three hits over five

scoreless innings for the D-backs. He struck out five and caused the

Padres to strand three runners at third. At the plate, Hildebrand

went 2 for 2 with a double.

Defensively, Angel Beas, Justin Batangan, Christian Aguilar and

Connor Gilligan backed up their pitcher with solid plays in the

outfield and infield.

Josh Dominguez and Shane Butler shared catching duties.

Tony Campo and Butler led the offense, each tallying two hits,

while Dominguez tripled. Marc DeFrenza and Diego Diaz each singled.

* D-backs 6, Angels 6

Campo and Beas reached on base hits, setting the stage for

Dominguez, who worked the count to 1-2 before sending the next pitch

over the center-field fence for his first home run of the season to

tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. The game was called

due to darkness.

Batangan, Hildebrand and Butler rounded out the offensive attack

with hits.

Alex Krohnfeldt pitched two innings with no walks and four

strikeouts while DeFrenza went three innings in relief. Beas closed

out the sixth.

Jesus Rodriguez and Aguilar provided strong support while Diaz

made a running catch in deep left field.

In Costa Mesa American Little League play:

* Mariners 5, White Sox 4

Tyler Sheffner scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth

inning to give the Mariners the win. Sheffner was also the winning

pitcher. Nathan Olson scored the tying run.

P.J. Maloney pitched four strong innings, while Olson, Sheffner,

J.T. McLucky, Martin Myszynski, James Lewis, Matthew Mello and Dakota

Gilbert each collected hits.

Austin McArdle and Tommy Werdel each pitched well for the White

Sox, while Trace Curet, Jack Jeffries and Jordan Myers hit safely for

the White Sox.

* Mariners 5, Rockies 4

Matthew Logue struck out seven in four innings to record the win.

Maloney also pitched well for the save. Kyle Peterson, Maloney,

Myszynski and McLucky each got hits for the Mariners.

Austin Knott, Maloney, Peterson and Myszynski scored runs for the

Mariners.

In Farm Division Play:

* Pirates 15, Mets 13

The Pirates held off a rally by the Mets behind three RBIs from

Ryan West. William Reed and Eric Pfautz each went 3 for 3 with two

RBIs while Cassie Stevenson and Jake Stone each had three hits in

three at-bats.

Stevenson, while pitching, got the defensive momentum going in the

third inning by catching a line drive and throwing to first to double

a runner off the bag.

Stone recorded an unassisted double play in the fourth, catching a

pop fly and tagging a runner who had ventured off second.

Harrison Stern contributed three strong innings at catcher while

the Mets batted around in the fifth.

Bradley Wilson slammed a triple and Brandon Dieckhoff, Matt Thomas

and Ray Barkis each singled twice in the inning.

In Newport Harbor Baseball Association Pinto play:

* The Astros (ages 7-8) enjoyed their best offensive output of the

season.

Blake Pender, Conner Moore, Michael Reo and Jack Ortlieb each had

multiple hits, including a grand slam by Ortlieb.

Chase Whiting, Wyatt Muller and T.J. Sleinko all made strong

plays.

The Padres also showed offensive power with Jack Thompson, Tommy

Hennessey and Stephen Kim powering hits. Kim also stood out

defensively.

* Tim McGetrick drove the ball to deep right-center field for a

double, one of his three hits for the Red Sox against the Blue Jays.

Bryan Shollin and Quinci Holgate each had three hits to drive in

runs, while Martin Jr. Najera and Andrew Chase each tallied three

hits apiece.

Austin Smith, Duke Morales and Spencer Buchanan played well for

the Red Sox.

In Machine Pitch play:

* The Harbor View Cubs ended the season strongly at Buffalo Hills

Field.

Nolan McCarthy and Cole Martin each sparked rally-ending defensive

plays in the third inning, while Charlie Griffin and Jack Menzia led

the scoring charge by going 4 for 4 with two doubles each.