Carr Turns on Gas to Power Westlake to Victory Over Poly

Tyler Carr pitched a three-hitter in Westlake High’s 5-0 victory over Poly on Wednesday in a pool-play game of the San Fernando Valley tournament at Westlake.

With command of a fastball, curveball and change-up, Carr (1-0), a junior right-hander, retired seven consecutive batters to end the game.

Carr out-dueled junior right-hander Eddie Baeza, who never recovered from a first inning two-run home run he surrendered on a 1-and-2 fastball to Jamie Hesselgesser.

Baeza threw 106 pitches, including 21 in the first inning. He pitched five innings and allowed five runs, though only the first two were earned.

“He’s got to learn to get dialed in early,” Poly Coach Chuck Schwal said. “He trusts his stuff, but he’s got to be able to get around the first inning.

“That’s where he’s had problems.”

Baeza (0-1) slowed Westlake (3-0), ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, which produced 25 runs on 22 hits in its first two games. Baeza struck out six in five innings but was done in by two errors, including one of his own.

With two out in the fourth inning and runners on second and third, Baeza’s pickoff throw sailed into center field and both runners scored, giving Westlake its last two runs.

Baeza allowed only two singles after the first inning and walked Mike Nickeas, a .435 hitter last season, three times.

Carr got out of a jam in the third inning. With a 2-0 lead, he allowed consecutive singles to start the inning, putting runners on the corners with the middle of the order due up.

He worked out of it, retiring the next three batters, striking out Zack Jones-Smith and cleanup hitter Gabe Pena to end the threat.

Carr, who struck out six and walked two, never allowed a runner to reach second base after that. He set down 11 of the final 14 Parrots and threw only 98 pitches in seven innings.

“He’s a quality No. 2 starter,” Westlake Coach Chuck Berrington said. “He had great command of three pitches, worked fast, and threw strikes.

“It was a clinic. We should have charged admission.”

Poly is 0-2-1.

Westlake plays at No. 2-ranked Kennedy at 3 p.m. today.