Sylmar Unravels Like Polyester Again, 2-0

It is one of the most competitive City Section baseball rivalries in the region. But for more than two years, it has also been the most lopsided.

For the second time in as many days, Poly High used outstanding pitching and a couple of key hits to beat Sylmar, 2-0, Thursday in an East Valley League game.

For those who are keeping track, Poly has defeated Sylmar in each of the last six games dating to 1994, a fact that doesn’t sit well with Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella.

“Like my license plate says, I hate to lose,” Donatella said. “Especially to Poly. You don’t know how hard it is to go over there and shake [Poly Coach Chuck] Schwal’s hand. I mean he’s a nice guy an all, but geez. . . .”

Poly (21-5-1, 13-1 in league play) took sole possession of first place, a game ahead of Sylmar (17-5, 12-2).

It was a duel of left-handers, with Poly’s Jerry Heredia (8-2) pitching a four-hitter. He struck out six and wasn’t threatened until the seventh when Sylmar had two runners on with two out.

“He was in control early on and he was hitting his spots,” Schwal said.

Heredia, who had a stomach flu Tuesday, was surprised the Spartans didn’t put up more of a fight.

“I thought they were gonna come back with a vengeance,” he said.

Sylmar’s Albert Palma (4-3) allowed five hits, but gave up two runs in the third.

Cesar Rodriguez hit a one-out single and Lucas La Touf was hit by a pitch. The runners advanced on a wild pitch before Palma struck out Travis McGivern. But Steve Guerrero singled home two runs.

“He had me down, 1-2, and he threw me a curve and it stayed up,” Guerrero said.