Coyotes unable to claw back vs. Tigers
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera’s David Zavala swings at a pitch for one of his two hits in Saturday’s loss to Edison.
Three runs in the first inning at Mel Parker Field put the Madera Coyotes baseball team in a hole that they nearly clawed out of.
Behind the arm of J.J. Padilla, the Edison-Fresno Tigers beat the Coyotes on Saturday in a three-game series sweep in the County/Metro Athletic Conference.
Padilla pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing an earned run, but he also walked six to go with three strikeouts.
Nathan Palacioz, tossed a complete game despite a rough first inning.
Palacioz showed toughness, both physically and mentally, pitching seven innings while striking out seven. The Coyotes’ starter allowed one run over the final six innings to close out the game, giving his teammates a shot at coming out with a win.
Lead-off hitter David Zavala led the Coyotes with two of the team’s five hits. Zavala recorded one of the Coyotes’ two RBI’s as well.
For Edison, after taking game one, 10-2, and game two, 4-0, closing out the series with all three wins was a possibility behind the play of Elijah Moultrie and clean-up hitter and catcher Michael Fung.
The pair combined for four hits, an RBI and a run in seven combined at-bats. Their consistent ability to get on base allowed left fielder Jaiden Cabrera to drive home two runs.
It all started early for the Tigers as Elijah Campos singled to center field just two batters into the game. Followed by a flyout to center by Moultrie, Fung singled to center, later advancing to second on the throw.
Edison had runners on second and third before Eleazar Aguirre singled to second, allowing one runner to score. Cabrera stepped up to the plated and singled to right fielder Adam Arias. Cabrera advanced to second on the throw with two runs scoring for a 3-0 lead.
Palacioz found his form on the mound and got Madera out of the inning.
Madera allowed a single run in the top of the second inning, but finally answered in the bottom of the second.
Consecutive walks to open the inning set the stage for the Coyotes to claw one back. Mathew Del Toro walked on five pitches, four straight balls to end the at-bat. Isaac Flores reached base after a full-count walk.
With two men on, Zavala singled on a line drive to center field, allowing Del Toro to score. Izaak Murillo later walked to load the bases for Madera in the bottom of the second down 4-1.
However, a strikeout and a pop out doomed the Coyotes.
Madera later had a chance in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Murillo hit a one-out single to center field. Murillo then swiped second base to set up Arias, who roped a ball to left field which resulted in an error on Cabrera. Murillo scored and Arias advanced to third.
The Coyotes couldn’t capitalize after a fly out to right field.
Despite cutting it to 4-2, the Coyotes were unable to bring the game back after losing the game and series to the Edison Tigers.
