Banuelos Gives Poly a Different Kind of Relief

As Poly High’s relief ace, Gus Banuelos is accustomed to coming into a game in a critical situation, getting an out or two and helping save the day for the Parrots.

Tuesday, Banuelos came through again for host Poly, which defeated Sylmar, 5-1, to pull into a first-place tie with the Spartans in the East Valley League.

This time, however, Banuelos replaced scheduled starter Jerry Heredia.

Banuelos had a hunch he would start after Heredia, Poly’s top starter, became ill at practice Monday.

All Banuelos (4-0) did was hold the Spartans to two hits and strike out 11 as Poly (20-5-1, 12-1) handed Sylmar (17-4, 12-1) its first loss in Valley Pac-8 Conference play.

“I was just trying to relax before I went out there,” Banuelos said. “I just switched back and forth between the fastball and the curveball and it worked the whole game.”

Banuelos, who has started several times this season, struck out six batters in the first three innings. Sylmar didn’t get a hit until Mario Rodriguez beat out a ground ball to shortstop Alfredo Flores with two out in the third inning.

Javier Ruelas had the Spartans’ other hit, a double to left-center field in the sixth, one of just five balls hit beyond the Parrot infield.

“We didn’t do well at all from the plate today,” Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella said. “We swung at some bad pitches. We had chances but we never used them.”

Banuelos was at his best when facing the heart of the Sylmar lineup. Leadoff batter Ralph Velazco struck out three times. No. 3 hitter Chris Ruley and No. 6 Miguel Flores each struck out twice.

The Parrots took advantage of early wildness by Sylmar starter Velazco (7-1) and a triple by third baseman Steve Guerrero to take a 3-0 lead in the first.

Sylmar cut its deficit to 3-1 in the second without a hit. Ruelas led off with a walk, advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch, and scored on a ground ball by Armando Garcia.

Velazco walked three batters in the first and had seven walks through four innings. He kept out of further trouble until the fifth, when Abel Salazar led off with a double. Frank Torres replaced Velazco, who allowed Salazar to score when he threw wildly to first on a sacrifice attempt by Gabriel Gomez.

Gomez, who wound up on second base after the overthrow, scored after another sacrifice and a sacrifice fly by Flores, giving Poly a four-run lead.

The victory gives Poly a break heading into Thursday’s rematch. The Parrots can start either Heredia (7-2) or Guerrero (6-1) against the Spartans.