May 8, 2012

Memorial's Rubi Jimenez reached base four times and scored three runs. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Ferris at Memorial Baseball Photo Gallery

WEST NEW YORK – When Ferris greeted Michael Gonzalez with four-straight hard hits to open the game, it had all the makings of a short day for the Memorial pitcher.

Seven innings later, Gonzalez finished what he started and left Miller Field with his fifth victory of the season.

The sophomore righty and his Memorial teammates overcame the disastrous to defeat the visiting Bulldogs 12-4.

"Mikey gave us a huge lift today, especially going seven for us," said Memorial assistant coach Jack Nagurka.

"I would never want to come out of a game like this," Gonzalez said. "If I start the game, I want to finish it."

Early on it looked like Gonzalez wouldn't have much choice in the matter as Jomar Casiano and Jelani Williams opened with doubles and Andiery Jimenez and Ronnie Lozano followed with singles to make it 2-0 before the first out.

Jimenez stole home on a double steal and a Memorial (8-8) error made it 4-0 in favor of Ferris (8-12) in the first inning.

"I usually have a rough first inning, but later on in the game I just focus more," said Gonzalez about his early struggles." That first inning was bad."

From there he settled down, overcoming seven walks to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard the rest of the way. He struck out nine in the complete game effort.

"Mikey gets on the mound and its always with his heart," Nagurka said. "You watch him and you say to yourself 'how does he win?' He wins with his heart."

Gonzalez wasn't the only one to show his perseverance and ability to fight back. Memorial, losers of their last four games, rallied for two in the third inning and tied it the fourth on a two-run double from Jose Francisco.

Rubi Jimenez put the Tigers in front for good with a RBI single in the fifth and Ruben Rivera followed with a base-clearing triple to make it 8-4 and put the game out of reach.

"It was a fastball outside. I usually like the fastballs outside so I just took it that way," Rivera said. "I didn't think it was gone, I just tried to win the game."

Rivera would score on a balk as Memorial sent 10 men up to the plate in the fifth and followed with three more runs in the sixth inning to make the game a blowout.

"We're competitive with each other. If one person gets a hit, the other one wants to get one too," said Rivera who went 2-for-3 with four RBI, two runs and a walk. "Everyone's fighting to get hits."

Jimenez (1-for-1) reached base all four times he came to the plate and scored three runs. Anthony Urdaneta scored two runs and Chris Gonzalez added two RBI.

Jimenez had two hits and three stolen bases for Ferris. Casiano was 3-for-4 with a steal and Williams reached base three times in defeat.

Ferris' Jomar Casiano (32) receives congratulations after scoring a first inning run. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Ferris at Memorial Baseball Photo Gallery