Sako’s slam backs solid effort from Angelenos pitching staff in 12-1 win
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — There’s a philosophy that pertains to the entire pitching staff of the Glendale Angelenos. It’s something that Glendale doesn’t plan to stray from this season.
“We want out starters to go no more than four or five innings and then try to divide the bullpen into two or three groups,” said Glendale Coach Tony Riviera, who saw seven pitchers combine on a two-hitter Wednesday night in the Angelenos’ 12-1 nonleague victory against the East Los Angeles Dodgers’ gold team at Stengel Field. “We want the bullpen guys to go an inning every other day or third day.
“Our pitchers can all throw strikes. We have challenged the pitching staff to have a sub 3.00 [earned-run average] this season.”
The Angelenos (2-0) got three innings from starter Thomas Korn, a former Glendale Community College athlete, who allowed one hit and one run. Relievers Dusty Weinberg, Stephano Rodriguez, Kyle McDorman, Sean Adler, Keaton Leach and Hector Gomez each pitched a scoreless inning, combining to strike out eight.
Glendale catcher Sako Chapjian, who played at Hoover High and Glendale college before moving on to Cal State Dominguez Hills, said each pitcher provided a dimension.
“It’s one of our strengths and they are mostly all power pitchers,” said Chapjian, who caught the final 10 games of the season at Dominguez Hills. “They just go out there and throw fastballs until somebody can hit one.”
The Angelenos fell behind, 1-0, in the first before scoring six runs in the second to take a 6-1 lead.
Edgar Montes of Glendale college and former Vaquero Scott Hong delivered back-to-back run-scoring hits to give the Angelenos a 2-1 lead. Chapjian then hit a grand slam to left to extend the lead to 6-1.
“I was just trying to drive the ball and drive in at least one run,” Chapjian said. “I then got a slider and extended my hands and things worked out for me.”
Montes provided the Angelenos with an 8-1 lead with a two-run double in the third.
Pedro Aldape hit a two-run home run in the sixth to give the Angelenos a 10-1 advantage. Former Vaquero Julian Jarrad followed with a solo home run to make it 11-1.
The Angelenos closed out the scoring in the eighth when Montes registered a run-scoring single.
Montes, Hong and Danny Casey, another former Vaquero, finished with three hits apiece. Padilla and Matthew Tellesco contributed a pair of hits for Glendale, which opened its season Tuesday with a 6-5 victory against East L.A.’s blue team.
“We got some key hits, including Sako’s grand slam,” Riviera said. “Sako’s home run changes the mindset of the game and it takes the pressure off our pitchers and it gives our pitchers the confidence to go out there and pound the plate.
“We’ve also challenged our hitters to have a team average of .300 or better.”
