2-A BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Mission Bay Prevails With Five Runs in 10th

Mission Bay had a three-run lead over St. Augustine going into the bottom of seventh. It wasn’t enough. Mission Bay then went ahead by a run in the top of the ninth. That didn’t hold, either.

What was it going to take to beat these guys? Well, how about a 10th inning in which Mission Bay’s first seven batters reached base, and five scored?

Yes, that was enough to take the fight out of the Saints, who went quietly in their half of the 10th as Mission Bay won, 11-6, in the first round of the San Diego Section 2-A baseball playoffs.

Mission Bay (16-10) plays San Pasqual in Thursday’s quarterfinals. St. Augustine finished 17-12.

A big reason the Buccaneers will bus up to San Pasqual is Wyatt Spencer, a junior pitcher who came in to relieve starter Pat Betancourt in the bottom of the seventh with runners at first and second, three runs already in and two out.

Spencer’s first pitch was outside and got by catcher Tom Lafever for a passed ball that moved the runners over 90 feet. But Spencer was able to cool St. Augustine by striking out Jorge Inzunza on three pitches.

Spencer (8-3) went on to strike out two of three batters in the eighth. And when Doug Knight’s triple in the top of the ninth knocked in Jesus Munoz from third, all the Bucs needed was one more strong inning from Spencer.

Spencer allowed a lead-off single to Bucky Bryant, but Bryant was quickly erased on Eric Dent’s fielder’s choice. Spencer then got his fourth strikeout when Jason Alcoser was caught looking.

Two out and a man on first. But Dent moved to second when Roger Alvarez walked on a 3-2 pitch, and he scored from there on Jeremy Klem’s single to left.

Then came the top of the 10th, and St. Augustine Coach Mike Stephensen wasn’t about to make the same mistake Mission Bay’s Dennis Pugh did in the seventh--leave his starter in too long. Stephensen relieved Inzunza with Bryant, but Bryant didn’t have his good stuff. And St. Augustine’s season faded like a shooting star:

Marlon Gardinera led off with a triple. Tom Lafever walked. Freshman Danny Gil, zero for four to this point, singled in Gardinera. Bobby Thomas walked. Dent replaced Bryant; it didn’t matter. Munoz singled to right, and Lafever scored. Mike Lowry singled to right, and Gil scored. Doug Knight flied out to short left. Jason Enomoto sacrificed to right, scoring Thomas. Munoz stole home.

Ouch.