Lungaro, Burbank baseball stave off rival Burroughs

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Burroughs’ Ricky Perez, at third base, jumps to the base trying to get Burbank’s Davis Mieliwocii out, but was called safe, in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Maxwel Meltzer has to jump high to catch a throw from the catcher and comes down to the ground a little late as Burroughs’ Niccolo Chuidian slides in safe with the steal in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Matt Lungaro pitches against a Burroughs batter in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Matthew Rudas stretches into a pitch in the third inning against Burbank in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s pitcher Matt Lungaro runs up on a shallow hit to throw out the Burroughs runner in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Jonathan Castaneda makes a play on an infield ground ball hit by Burrroughs in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Justin Palafox tags second base and makes a throw to first base for the double play against Burbank in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s pitcher Matt Lungaro in the third inning against Burroughs in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Jonathan Castaneda has to make a strong throw to first base for the out against Burroughs in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Andrew Jacob Barrera runs through first base on his way to second with a double against Burbank in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ pitcher Matthew Rudas has to make a fast throw to first base to get the Burbank runner out in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Brandon Martinez makes a play on an infield ground ball to throw out the Burbank runner to end the inning in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Matt Lungaro pumps his fist after striking out the last Burroughs batter in the inning, stranding Burroughs runners at second and third base in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Jonathan Castaneda makes a play at second base on an infield ground ball hit by Burroughs in a rival cross-town Pacific League baseball game at Burbank High School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Emin Avakian

May 9, 2017 11 PM PT

Reporting from Burbank —

Stellar pitching throughout and a late outburst led to a victory for Burbank High baseball in the first of two games with rival Burroughs this week to close out the regular season.

Both teams have clinched an automatic postseason bid, with Burroughs locked into fourth in the Pacific League. Burbank can move up to second with another win on Friday and an Arcadia loss to Crescenta Valley.

Nevertheless, as it usually is when the two meet, implications tend to take a back seat to the rivalry. The Bulldogs gained bragging rights in the Media City, at least until Friday, prevailing 5-1 on Tuesday night at Burbank High.

Matt Lungaro went the distance for the Bulldogs (14-8, 10-3), striking out seven with no walks and no earned runs. He gave up six hits and faced adversity early, but overcame it with poise and big pitches.

“I live for those moments,” Lungaro said. “That’s when you prove yourself, play your strongest, and trust your defense, teammates, coaches.”

Those moments came in the second and third innings, when Burroughs (12-13, 7-6) left four runners in scoring position.

The Indians’ best opportunity came in the third.

Nico Chuidian led off the inning with a single. A stolen base and an error had Chuidian on third with Ricky Perez on second. Justin Palafox’s fly ball to center looked deep enough for Chuidian to tag up, but hesitation prevented the run and took a scoreless game into the bottom of the third.

“Big pitches at the right time,” Burbank Coach Bob Hart said. “Matt had the resiliency to get out of it.”

“Their pitcher did a good job,” Burroughs Coach Craig Sherwood said. “I like my guys in every situation, but sometimes you get beat.”

Burbank broke the scoreless tie in the bottom half of the third on Christopher Minnick’s RBI single, scoring Maxwell Meltzer.

Sherwood’s decision to insert Adan Perez as a pinch runner proved beneficial, as he used his speed to score from second on a Burbank error at first base.

The game stayed knotted until the bottom of the sixth when Burbank put up a four-spot, highlighted by a game-winning two-run single off the bat of Christian Guerra to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 advantage.

It would mark the end of Matthew Rudas’ night. He pitched five innings, striking out five but also hitting five batters.

A balk ball gave Burbank its fourth run. A Meltzer sacrifice fly scored Guerra to increase the lead to 5-1.

“Their resiliency put them in a position to succeed and they have all year,” Hart said of his team. “We lost eight guys from the opening roster.

“It’s a pretty special team.”

The teams will meet on Friday night at Burroughs.