Gilbert Blasts Back Into Lineup, Buena Park Wins

Five weeks after straining a biceps muscle, Jeremy Gilbert returned to the lineup and hit two home runs, a sacrifice fly and drove in four runs to lead host Buena Park to a 10-8 victory over Fullerton, Friday in a Freeway League baseball game.

With the win, Buena Park (7-11, 5-4) tied Fullerton (7-10, 5-4) for second and both teams now trail first-place Sonora by four games with six remaining.

“[Gilbert] really sparked us today,” Buena Park Coach Russ McHale said. “He’s been taking batting practice for two weeks, but he’s actually still going through therapy.

“I’m really proud of the way all our kids stepped up today.”

After two innings, the score was tied, 1-1. The Indians scored an unearned run in the first and the Coyotes did the same in the second. Fullerton added two runs in the third, on a double by Jim Waninger that scored Chris Stevenson and a single by Joe Echaves that scored Waninger.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Gilbert hit a home run to left-center to pull Buena Park to within 3-2. Three batters later, Anthony Cabral doubled down the left-field line to score Rudy Padilla and Sergio Flores for a 4-3 lead.

In the fourth inning, Buena Park’s Casey Arbiso singled to center to drive in Corey Arbiso, who reached on an error. Gilbert then hit a hanging curveball from R.J. Ciccaglione over the fence for his second home run, giving Buena Park a 7-3 lead.

Fullerton scored twice in the fifth on a two-run double by Echaves, but Buena Park got three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Corey Arbiso hit a home run, Phillip Hernandez singled, Gonzalo Meza tripled home Hernandez and Gilbert flirted with a third home run, but settled for a sacrifice fly to deep right field.

“Coach [McHale] said before the game he needed me to step up and be a leader, so I did,” Gilbert said. “I’ve been anxious to get off the bench after five weeks of physical therapy and it really felt good to swing the bat again.”