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The GCCL Bucs hosted the California Gold Sox at Los Angeles Valley College on Thursday, combining dominant starting pitching and a late-game rally to win 9-6.
Coming off a split of a doubleheader against the Coastal Dodgers, the Bucs now come out of this game having won two straight games. The Gold Sox were able to attack early, but the Bucs found a way to retaliate and eventually score five runs in their last two innings of offense to carry them to victory.
The Bucs turned to Cy Mezin (W, 1-0) to start his first game with the Bucs on the mound. After allowing a run before getting a single out, Mezin settled down nicely through his next four innings, not allowing a single hit and striking out six batters during that span. After giving up three unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, the Bucs helped out their pitcher by scoring two of their own in the bottom half of the inning, bringing the score to 4-3.
Mezin was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the seventh inning with two huge strikeouts to keep the score locked where it was. Mezin in his first start with the Bucs did not allow a single earned run, while also posting two innings where he struck out the side. Mezin finished with a final statline of 7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, and 12 K.
“I just wanted to come in and throw strikes and hopefully just win the ballgame, and thankfully we had some good hits to back us up late in the game… I only threw at around 85% today because I knew I wanted to work long innings and I did a good job of that,” Mezin said.
The Bucs starting hitters heading into the bottom of the seventh inning put up four runs as a unit. When the Bucs called on defensive replacement Jayden Rez, he was able to connect on a go-ahead two-run double to give the Bucs their first lead of the game, a lead they would carry to their second straight victory. Rez, out of the number 10 spot in the lineup, was able to drive home three runs in only one official at bat.
The Bucs on offense impressed with a .280 team batting average and a solid .760 team OPS, as well as scoring more times than leaving men on base in the process.
The Bucs will conclude their three game series against the Gold Sox with a doubleheader at Los Angeles Valley College on Saturday. The scheduled first pitch for the first game of the day will be at 11:00 a.m.