Brian Kleidosty turned a close game into a typical game for Carson at the Capitol Classic on Wednesday, hitting a grand slam home run that lifted the Capitols to a 9-4 win over the Boise Gems at Carson High.
The Caps improved to 3-0 and are tied with the Danville Hoots, whom they play Friday at 8 p.m., for first in the Red Division. The Gems dropped to 1-2 for the tourney.
"That's a big game Friday, and it should determine who plays in Sunday's championship game," Ron McNutt said.
The Caps have made their living this summer with the big inning, usually using it to blow open the game. Against the Gems, it was the five-run fourth that left the opponent stunned.
With the Caps up 3-2 in the fourth, Kleidosty's pivotal grand slam that scored Pat Reilly, Pete White, and Dustin Pedroia gave the Caps a 7-2 lead.
"I was just trying to hit the ball hard," said Kleidosty, who was named the game's MVP. "He threw me a curveball earlier that I hit well, and I was just looking to score some runs."
The Caps added another run in the fourth after Joe Jacobitz scored off a Gems fielding error, that made the score 8-2.
"We made some defensive errors tonight," said Gems coach Larry Price, who mentioned that his team is made up of primarily high school players. "If we would've played a little better defense, I don't think it would've been a 9-4 game."
The Gems took an early lead in the second after Tim Kurtz hit a triple off pitcher Kenny Heald, and Nick Puckett hit a RBI double that scored Kurtz. Kyle Anderson then hit a RBI single that gave the Gems a 2-0 lead.
But in the bottom of the second, the Caps battled back when Pat Reilly hit a RBI double that scored Jonathan Fender. Jacobitz then hit a two-run single in the third to score Kleidosty and Joe Mercer, giving the Capitols a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, the Gems made a small comeback when Josh Huwer hit a two-run homer off Heald that made the score 8-4. Then Kurtz got to second after Jacobitz dropped a routine fly ball. Heald, who struck out eight hitters, dashed any hopes for a Gems rally when he struck out Justin Bradberry to end the inning.
The Caps scored an insurance run in the sixth after Dustin Hahn hit a RBI single that scored Mercer and finished the scoring at 9-4.
In the seventh, McNutt replaced Heald with the hard throwing Kevin Jepsen, who struck out two hitters in the inning to close it out.
The Gems will face the Carmel Bulls Friday at 5 p.m.