Carson Blue Jays strand 10 in 1-run loss to NBO

The Carson Blue Jays were unable to come up with big hits late in Saturday’s pool game against NBO, and it cost them.

The Blue Jays left 10 runners on, including six in the last four innings, in a 7-6 loss to NBO at Ron McNutt Field in the Reno Knights July 4th Tournament.

Carson finished 2-2 in pool play, losing two one-run games. Carson is scheduled to host a game Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Blue Jays took a 6-5 lead when Kahle Good hit a two-run triple to right-centerfield in the bottom of the fourth.

“I was just looking for a pitch to drive the other way,” Good said. “I had two strikes and I saw the ball up and I went the other way.”

Carson coach Bryan Manoukian, who was ejected in the sixth inning after Good was rung up on what appeared to be a low curveball, said Good has improved since the high school season ended.

“Kahle has made progress from the high school season to the summer season,” Manoukian said. “He is having more team at-bats instead of me at-bats. Hopefully it will continue.”

Unfortunately, Good’s triple was the last good thing to happen to Carson, as the offense and bullpen struggled over the final three innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, Teigen Key reached on an error and moved to second on Zach Glanzmann’s sacrifice bunt. Delsin Roberts walked, but Joe Tonino struck out looking. Abel Carter was hit by a pitch, loading the bases but Kyle Glanzmann struck out looking to end the inning.

In the sixth, Landon Truesdale singled with one out and stole second. Jared Barnard popped out to left and Key was retired on a foul ball to first.

Zach Glanzmann breezed through the fifth and escape unscathed in the sixth thanks to a baserunning mistake by NBO’s Nate Clemons, who smacked a double, but rounded the base too far and was thrown out after a short rundown.

That, however, was a precursor.

In the top of the seventh, Alex Wilson doubled and scored on a single by Ruben Garza. On the throw home, Garza moved to second. He stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

Tonino gave Carson some life with a two-out single in the seventh, but Garza retired Carter to end the game.

Other than Ryan Wright, who got six outs and allowed one hit, Carson pitchers struggled. Starter Garritt Benivedez hit three batters in 2-plus innings of work, and he didn’t make it out of the third inning.

John Wynne was hit by a pitch with two outs in the second and scored on a single by Tony Smith to cut Carson’s lead to 2-1.

In the top of the third, David Alray reached on an infield single and Wilson was hit by a pitch. Garza singled to load the bases, and Spencer Swain drove in three runs with a triple. Wright came on and yielded a sacrifice fly to Sean Miller to make it 5-2. Wright retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

“We gave them too many free bases,” Manoukian said. “They are a good-hitting team, and they can string hits together like they did (in the third and seventh).”