Everglades Comes Back To Defeat Miramar

Behind a strong complete-game start by Raul Quesada and a collective 5-for-6, four-RBI day at the plate by Juan David Gamero and Justin Baly, the Everglades Gators took down the Miramar Patriots 5-3 on Wednesday. The Gators come-from-behind district victory was pivotal in keeping them in contention for the 8A-13 crown.

It took Quesada three outs to get his feet under him. In between them, the Patriots were able to plate three runs. Alex Rodriguez had a double and scored, and Kevin Richards drove in a pair with a two-RBI double as the Patriots jumped ahead 3-0. After the first inning, Quesada had to do some battling against the Miramar lineup. With the help of some solid defensive work behind him, he was able to win nearly every challenge he faced en route to going a full seven innings.

Flashing high-70’s heat and a nasty changeup that stayed in opposing hitters’ eyes before diving into the strike zone just feet before the plate, Quesada struck out ten. He worked ahead often, getting first-pitch strikes against 17 of the 28 hitters he faced. According to Quesada, it was the ability to get ahead early and keep hitters guessing that allowed him to be as successful as he was on the day.

“It’s always good to work ahead with a first strike,” Quesada said. “Once you do that, you’re always ready to throw that second one, maybe in the same place or maybe come with an off-speed pitch. That’s usually how it is in that sequence; just getting productive outs. It works very well.”

Quesada also lauded the work his defense did behind him, including three runners thrown out on stolen base attempts by his catcher, Yabel Arzeno. He admitted that his confidence in them went a long way in allowing him to enjoy such a good day on the hill.

“They did amazing,” Quesada said. “I trust them 100% and I will go anywhere with them. That’s what they do and I’m glad they were there for me the whole entire game.”

Manager Matthew Cordova praised his hurler’s ability to adapt to a tough start, a situation in which he has not had much experience this year. Even though he may not have had his best stuff, Quesada turned it into a great overall outing.

“Raul pitched a heck of game. He had to battle, which he doesn’t have to do too often,” Cordova said. “But he got out of the first inning and just went to work. Our defense also played well behind him.”

Staked to a three-run lead before he even took the mound, Miramar starter Marty Silverberg kept the Everglades’ offense off-balance for most of the game by using primarily off-speed stuff. Silverberg kept the Patriots in the game.

Rodriguez pointed to a few base running mistakes and a some key put-outs on great throws by the opposing catcher, Arzeno, as the difference.

“We fought at the end but two key mistakes base-running wise and some great defense by their catcher really did us in,” Rodriguez said. “Their catcher made great throws to get two of the fastest guys on our team. So when that happens, the inning dies.”

Keeping hitters out in front for most of the afternoon, the contact pitcher induced six fly-outs and three ground-outs, while giving up just one earned run. Although Silverberg worked from behind in the count a lot to a lineup attempting to wait him out, Silverberg trusted his stuff and was able to come back in most counts. This included two 3-0 counts in the fourth inning, which he rebounded to induce outs.

Manager Mario Rodriguez admitted that Silverberg’s strong outing came on a day in which he wasn’t even supposed to be with the team. He praised his starter’s ability to adjust to the situation on short notice.

“Marty Silverberg has had three consecutive outings for us, but he’s done really well,” Rodriguez said. “He wasn’t even supposed to be here today because he was supposed to go up to UF to do early enrollment, but we needed him. He adjusted well to the situation and put together a good day.”

On his team’s offensive effort, Cordova lauded Gamero’s and Baly’s resolve to step up, take the reigns, and lead the Gators’ offense. Much of the rest of the lineup not being able to manage much against a tough opposing starter.

“We had, at the top of the lineup, two guys that were really our sparkplugs,” Cordova said. “Not everybody is going to be great all the time and when they are not, someone has to step up. Justin Baly and Juan Gamero stepped up big time and did a great job for us today.”

Today, it was Gamero and Baly but on other occasions, it has been different members of Everglades’ lineup that have lead the offense. Cordova, knowing that the skill and potential is there in all of his players, says that if the Gators can start getting that same complete effort from the entire lineup concurrently, they will be all the more stronger.

“We’re still trying to figure out how to get that kind of production all the way through the lineup at the same time,” Cordova said. “Every day through the last few games, we have had different groups of guys do the job. I am just waiting for the entire lineup to put it together at the same time. I think we can do something special if they can figure out how to come together 1-9. If they can piece everything together, we can do something special.”

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