Grim Gonzalez is making a habit of special pitching performances.
The Bethlehem Yankees hurler who threw a no-hitter last season carried a perfect game to the final out Sunday in a 12-0 victory over the Bandits. It was the the first half of a doubleheader in Lehigh Valley Baseball League AA South Division action at East Texas Park in Lower Macungie Township.
The slight lefthander with a masterful mix struck out 10 batters and was perfect through 14 outs of what proved to be a five-inning game. Gonzalez had a chance to seal perfection himself but couldn’t make the throw in time on a short roller that Jack Ivankovits turned into the only Bandits hit of the game.
“I’m proud of Gonzalez for a hell of a game on the mound. This kid is really impressive. He had an amazing year last year on the mound with Wilson, and he’s going to continue to be great for us. I’m just really proud of our team and we look forward to keep it rolling every week,” said Edgar Lebron, manager of the first-year Yankees squad.
The Bandits, another first-year team, started hot in winning their LVBL debut last week but had few answers in their second outing.
Game 2: Rivera brothers fuel rally
The young Bandits gained some footing in Game 2, running out to a lead with a three-run third inning.
Luke Deschenes drove in two Bandits with one of his two doubles, and Trent Viola drove in another with one of his two base knocks.
But then came Gonzalez again, and some help from the Rivera brothers whose big knocks fueled a sixth-inning rally for a 5-3 Yankees victory.
Gonzalez singled to start the rally. After a walk and another hit to load the bases, Jose Rivera cleared them with a three-run triple over the center fielder’s head to tie the game. Andres Rivera singled home his younger brother to take the lead, then scored on a passed ball for the final margin.
“Proud of our second baseman Jose Rivera on having such a clutch at-bat,” Lebron said. Jose Rivera had also notched a hit, two walks, and run in Game 1.
Zach Silfies entered to pitch the final inning for the Yankees, struck out the side, and is making a mark as perhaps one of the top pitchers in the AA Division if not all of the LVBL.
The Elizabethtown College hurler now has 17 strikeouts in eight LVBL innings pitched, spanning last week’s win and this week’s save. He has not allowed a run, earned or unearned, in either outing.
