PALM SPRINGS – The POWER (30-3, 14-2) outlasted the Riverside Rebels, 8-7, in a wild affair at Palm Springs Stadium on Wednesday.
Pete Reyes earned the win in relief, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. Robert Hook started for the POWER and lasted five innings in his first start, allowing three runs and striking out five in a no-decision.
Jake Howeth was the hero in the ninth inning in unconventional fashion, as his lazy fly ball to right field fell harmlessly to the turf to allow Brett Sullivan to score the game-winning run. Eric Urry and Anthony Lombardo also chipped in on offense, as they each picked up two RBIs in the win.
Palm Springs opened up a four-run lead over the first two innings. After Sullivan tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the first frame, Urry pushed home two more runs in the second inning with a double down the first-base line. Michael Massi followed with an RBI-single to score Urry and make it 4-0 after two.
The Rebels battled hard and scored a run in each of the next six innings to tie the game before the POWER went ahead again in the seventh. After T.J. Bennett was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs, Lombardo stepped up and smashed a high-hopper through the right side to make it 7-5.
Riverside would level the score again in the eighth inning before Palm Springs put the game to bed in the ninth. Sullivan led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Reagan Fowler. Sullivan advanced to third base on an errant throw back to the mound to give Howeth a chance to win the game with two outs. The outfielder hit a towering fly to right field that hung up in the wind just enough to create havoc for the Rebel defense, as it dropped untouched to score Sullivan from third and hand the POWER an 8-7 victory.
With the win, the magic number for Palm Springs to clinch a berth in the SCCBL playoffs is now just two.
The POWER are back in action with a doubleheader in San Diego on Thursday before returning home for two more games with Riverside on Friday and Saturday. Remember, Friday is Dollar Beer Night, with Bud and Bud Light drafts available for just a buck. Fans that cannot make it to the stadium can catch all the action on pspbb.com.
