Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada blue team got an outstanding pitching performance from senior right-hander Mario Rivera to defeat the silver squad 3-2 on Tuesday morning at Peccole Park to even the Silver & Blue Baseball World Series at one game apiece. Rivera pitched five no-hit innings before allowing just one hit and no runs in his six innings of work.
With the game tied at 2-2 second baseman David Ciarlo walked with one down in the bottom of the ninth inning and promptly stole second base to move into scoring position. With two down Ciarlo scored from second base on a throwing error by freshman shortstop Garrett Patterson to give the blue team the victory.
After 7.1 scoreless innings the blue team scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead. Aaron Henry got the rally started with an infield single and stole second base where he scored on first baseman Shaun Kort’s RBI single. Kort stole second base to move into scoring position and came around to score on right fielder Mike Hale’s infield RBI single and it was 2-0.
The silver team tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth inning. Third baseman Jason Rodriguez and designated hitter Matt Bowman singled to start the inning. Right fielder Terry Walsh and second baseman Nick Leid were hit by pitch which scored the first run of the inning. First baseman Joey Wallace’s sacrifice fly scored the tying run but the silver squad responded in the bottom of the ninth scoring the winning run with two out.
Rivera did not earn the win as the blue team scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning after he had left the game. Reliever Bryan Suarez got the win and Stephen Bautista was tagged with the loss. Brock Stassi had a solid performance for the silver team allowing one hit and no runs in four innings on the mound.
The final game of the series is Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and is free to the public. Senior right-hander Rod Scurry, who was scheduled to start today’s game but was ill, is expected to take the mound for the silver team. Scurry will be opposed by sophomore lefty Chris Garcia.
