Clock runs out on ball game

The Cubs defeated the Athletics 16-12, in a Van Cortlandt Baseball League slugfest on Sunday that was shortened to six innings due to a league time limit on its games.

After falling behind 3-0 early, the Cubs built a 16-6 lead after four innings.

Jesse Gutierrez started what became a 3-run rally in the first inning with a double to center field. He came around to score on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Adonis Garcia and Jose Paulino both singled and scored in that inning.

In the second, Gutierrez singled to center and then came around to score on a base hit from Bryan Almonte.

Paulino and Levisson Rosario both had 2-run hits later in the inning.

The Cubs then added 2 more runs in the third inning on an RBI single from Garcia and a RBI walk from Rosario

In the fourth inning, the Cubs loaded the bases with 1 out.

Garcia’s walk brought home a run and then an error scored Gutierrez and Almonte.

Paulino then delivered once again with an RBI single up the middle to cap off the 4-run inning.

The Athletics rallied for 3 runs in each of the final two innings, but their comeback attempt ultimately fell short.

Rosario was the winning pitcher for the Cubs, throwing four innings and striking out 3. Rosario shook off a rough first two innings and held the Athletics to only 1 run over his final two frames.

Garcia pitched an inning in relief, and Gutierrez then closed the door with 3 strikeouts in the sixth.

VCBL Phils beat Yanks

The Phillies beat the Yankees, 6-2 on Monday, July 23, in the 16-years-old and under division of the Van Cortlandt Baseball League

The game began as a pitchers’ duel between the Phillies’ Benjamin Ramirez and the Yankees’ Kenny Alarcon. 

Ramirez, who is one of the youngest players in the division at 13, prevailed as the winning pitcher for the Phillies, tossing five innings and allowing only 1 run.

“Benjamin can do it all,” said Johnny Arias, the league’s president. “He’s a natural.”

In the first inning, the “natural” allowed an infield hit, but kept any runs from scoring, and Alarcon countered with a quick 1-2-3 inning, including a pair of strikeouts.