Glendale Takes a Beating but Batters Pasadena, 12-2

When Glendale High batters faced Pasadena pitchers Friday at Glendale they needed their helmets. Five times they were plunked at the plate with either curves that didn’t break or fastballs that did.

But the most pain was felt by Pasadena after Glendale took a 12-2 victory to pull into a tie for first place in the Pacific League with the Bulldogs.

Three hit batters in the first inning led to three Glendale runs. The Dynamiters scored four times in the third and forged a five-run fourth.

The win was Glendale’s second of the week against Pasadena. Robert Detolve pitched a two-hitter Tuesday as Glendale beat the Bulldogs, 2-1.

Glendale pitcher Robert Moser matched Detolve’s feat, pitching a two-hitter with eight strikeouts. Both teams sport identical league records of 8-3. Both are also 10-7 overall.

Moser (5-5) started slowly. “I was a little nervous at the start,” he said. “After a while I calmed down and hit corners. My curve was breaking real well.”

In the first, Moser allowed two walks and a stolen base before retiring the side without a run. He then retired 11 Bulldogs in a row before an error, a ground-rule double and a passed ball in the fifth spoiled his bid for a no-hitter and a shutout.

Both Pasadena runs were unearned and came after Glendale had scored all 12 runs.

“He’s thrown five very good games in a row,” Glendale Coach Chris Axelgard said. “If I had a game to win, he’d be on the hill.”

The Dynamiters will need help with the pitching staff. Earlier in the week they lost the services of senior Justin Lord (2-0), who was declared ineligible for playing in the Greater San Fernando Valley all-star basketball game last week.

“I was unaware of the rule that I forfeited my eligibility by playing in the game,” Lord said. “I didn’t find out until Monday.”

Glendale had only six hits but Swain Wukelich drove in five runs with a three-run double in the fourth, a run-scoring single in the first and a bases-loaded walk in the third.

“I’ve been having trouble with my swing lately but today it all came together,” he said.

Glendale went through four Bulldog pitchers, including three in the third.

“We’re real excited, we’ve got a real good shot at the playoffs now,” Axelgard said.

Glendale must play at Pasadena next Friday, which worries Axelgard. “Anytime a team beats me, 12-2, and we play them again, you can bet we’re coming out for revenge,” he said.