Seamus Burns hits a 2-run trilple in the 2nd inning against Hug High School on Tuesday.
Three and zero were the key numbers to remember from Carson’s league victory Tuesday afternoon.
Three is the number of runs the Senators scored in each of their four at-bats, and zero is the number of hits and runs allowed by the pitching tandem of Bryce Moyle and Josiah Pongasi in the 12-0 win over the Hug Hawks at Ron McNutt Field.
The mercy rule win snapped a three-game losing streak and evened the Senators’ record at 3-3 .
Carson shoots for a series sweep Thursday against the Hawks in Reno with Brandon Allen on the mound. First pitch is set for 3:45 p.m.
Moyle, the sophomore left-hander, was especially impressive in his four-inning stint. He fanned nine and walked two, and threw just 53 pitches.
Coach Brian Manoukian actually lifted him in favor of Pongasi to start the fifth. Pongasi easily retired the Hawks to secure the no-hitter and shutout.
“I don’t let the situation dictate things,” Manoukian said. “Josiah needed to get some work in. Bryce was going to throw three or four innings. That was predetermined.
“Bryce threw much better than in his last outing. His arm slot was better. He got a little tired in the fourth.”
Moyle retired the first 11 hitters he faced, nine on strikes, before walking back-to-back hitters in the fourth.
“I knew it (that I had a no-hitter),” Moyle said. “I didn’t care. I was just throwing it in there. I wasn’t getting on top of the ball last time. My arm slot was lower last time.”
And, Moyle wasn’t lacking for support.
The Senators used eight hits, including three by Jesse Lopez and two from Seamus Burns, plus three walks and six hit batsmen to demolish the outmanned Hawks. The most impressive thing about the offense was the two-strike output. The Senators were an impressive 5-for-10 with six RBI after two outs.
“Hitting with two outs is something we put a premium on,” Manoukian said. “You can win a lot of games with good two-out hitting. We worked on hitting the ball up the middle and to the opposite field. That’s what you have to do against that type of pitching.
“Jesse did exactly what we asked of him at practice. He hit three balls hard to the right side. Seamus is a big, strong kid, and when he lets the ball travel he is as good as anybody we have.”
Lopez, who had three hits in the tournament last week, was moved up to the leadoff spot and went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. He started the first two three-run rallies with singles.
“We were tinkering a little bit,” Manoukian said. “We have a couple of guys that weren’t hitting like we know they can, and we wanted to put them in fastball situations.”
In the first, Lopez singled, stole second and advanced to third on an infield out. Joe Nelson was hit by a pitch and stole second unchallenged. After Brandon Allen struck out, John Holton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Burns followed with a two-run single to right-centerfield to score Lopez and Nelson. Kyle Krebs singled to right to score Holton to make it 3-0.
Lopez singled and stole second to start the second inning. He stole third and scored when the Hug third baseman missed the throw. With Allen aboard via a fielder’s choice and Holton aboard after getting hit for the second time, Burns unloaded a triple to right-centerfield to make it 6-0. Krebs rolled out to end the inning.
Carson added three more in the third thanks to a double by Lopez, a wild pitch, a passed ball, an error and single by Nolan Shine. In the fourth, Jordan Anderson hit a two-run double to highlight Carson’s fourth three-run inning.
NOTES: Carson’s next home game is Saturday at 11 against Reed ... Manoukian has indicated he would like to go with a four-person starting rotation which is needed to ensure Allen and Krebs, both catchers and pitchers, don’t get overused ... Jace Keema saw his first action of the season. He recently had some minor surgery. He went 0-for-1 with a walk.