MAYOR’S CUP:Too much Rios for American All-Stars

COSTA MESA — Tyler Rios struck out seven straight batters and blasted a home run to centerfield in less than four innings on Tuesday night.

And it wasn’t even the best performance of his young career.

“I didn’t know that [I had seven straight strikeouts],” Rios said after he led the Costa Mesa National All-Stars to a 17-1 win over Costa Mesa American in the Mayor’s Cup. “I was just throwing strikes. I think my best game was in Minor B when I [struck out 17 out of the 18 batters].”

Both All-Star teams have won five titles in the Mayor’s Cup, the annual best-of-three series pitting the city’s two Major Division All-Star teams. Rios helped the National team get one win closer to breaking the tie and grabbing a sixth Cup. He pitched three strong innings of no-hit baseball before giving way to Dillon Tyler. Tyler continued the no-hitter through the top half of the fourth inning, when the game was called because of the mercy rule at TeWinkle Intermediate.

The series continues today at 5:30 p.m. at Costa Mesa High, where Mayor Allan Mansoor is expected to make an appearance.

The National team will do its best to duplicate its Tuesday night performance. The CMNLL All-Stars struck for 10 runs off of nine hits in the bottom of the third inning.

“We kind of went out like that in the first game of All-Stars,” CMNLL Coach Rob Stillman said. “We got on another roll again and all it takes is hits, hits and more hits. Hitting is contagious.”

Rios singled and launched a two-run home run over the center-field fence during the third. He went four for four with three RBIs on the night.

“I was early on every pitch and I thought when it was coming in I would try to get it in play and I ended up doing that and getting a home run,” Rios said. “I thought it was a pop up, but it went out.”

Jesse Paz went four for four as well, scoring four runs overall for the National team. Ben Beck, Paz, Rios, Dante Capoccia, Ryan West, Tyler and Trevor Borkowski all scored in the third inning.

“It was easy to coach that way,” Stillman said. “Nine hits is pretty good in an inning, anytime they do that it makes coaching easy.”

Despite losing under the mercy rule, the American All-Stars played with smiles on their faces.

Aaron Axtell was hit by a pitch, winced, but stayed in to lead off the game for the American team. Jack Holm reached on a fielder’s choice and Josh Ring walked.

Jeremy Peak then hit a ball to the National third baseman that missed the bag on a would-be double play. The National team thought the inning was over and started to head off the field. Holm sprinted home, notching the lone run for the American team.

“My kids run 100% win or lose,” American Coach Pat Axtell said. “As much as we want to win, these kids have heart and love the game of baseball.”

Although Axtell, Holm, Ring, Peak and Idren Luna all pitched for the American team, no one went over the 20-pitch limit, making all eligible to pitch tonight. Whoever pitches, they’ll have to face Rios again.

Coach Axtell said the American team hadn’t seen Rios before.

“If my son were another foot taller to climb the fence in center field, he would have snagged it,” Axtell joked. “But beautiful hit and [Tyler] did a great job pitching.”

The National All-Stars look to end the two-year losing streak they have against the American team.

“Hopefully we stay focused and get it done [today],” Stillman said. “They beat us the last two years so we need to bring the Mayor’s Cup back to National this year.”

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at jason.kornfeld@latimes.com.