Ezekiel Lopez two-run triple ignites five-run Clear Lake rally in top of sixth inning
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CHICO >> Ezekiel Lopez tripled home two runs to snap a 1-1 tie and ignite a five-run Clear Lake rally in the top of the sixth inning as the Cardinals defeated Napa 6-1 on Thursday in the opening round of Chico Tournament at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico.
Johnny Gonzales added a two-run single in the sixth and AJ Bruch capped the rally with another RBI single as the Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the season. They will play twice on Friday – against Pleasant Valley at 8 a.m. and Golden Valley at 3:30 p.m. – before wrapping up tournament play Saturday.
Winning pitcher Peyton Portlock limited Napa to a single run, that coming in the bottom of the first inning after Clear Lake had gone ahead 1-0 in the top half. Portlock came within an out of throwing a complete game, David Cruz coming on in relief to get the final out with a single pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
“He was solid, pounding the zone,” Clear Lake head coach Brian Horne said of Portlock, who allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked two. “He was in control the whole way.”
Gonzales (3-for-4) had three of Clear Lake’s seven hits. Bruch finished 2-for-4 while Lopez (1-for-3) and Cruz (1-for-3) had the Cardinals’ other hits.
