Another weekend, another slate of games and once again an insane amount of runs, hits, and home runs. The Old Pueblo Tribe finished off their July fireworks with 71 runs scored, 94 hits, 10 home runs, 21 doubles, with the team walking away with a combined .385 AVG for the month of July.
These are HUGE numbers and very impressive and doesn’t happen everyday or to every team. The last time a MLB team even got close to .300 as a team, was in 1950, when the Boston Red Sox batted a .302. If you haven’t gotten out to a Tribe game to watch the fireworks show for yourself, well you’re missing out.
Before we kick off the game review, i wanted to offer a huge congratulations to team members, Manny Lopez and Kaiden Reeve for making Team USA for the Southern Winter League. A huge good luck to Kaiden and Manny for their accomplishments and have some fun out there!
Now let’s break open the weekend of the fireworks that the Old Pueblo Tribe once again were so generous to give us.
Friday’s game was against the Tucson Grasshoppers and the first inning was full of explosive hits, including a lead off home run from Angel Faras which started the scoring early for the Tribe. Soon after, Mark Lynam was able to reach on an error by the second baseman. With Hector Torres up to bat, Lynam showed off his speed on the base paths and stole second base. That was essential for Torres to reach first base after an error by the shortstop. Lynam was able to score from a result from the error.
Then with two outs, Kaiden Reeve came up to the plate, and he celebrated his announcement to Team USA in perfect fashion. A huge two-run home run to center field, clearing the base paths and extending the Tribe’s lead to four.
With Cesar Santiago up to the plate, he knew exactly what he had to do. On the very first pitch of the at-bat, he hit a huge solo shot to center field. A huge homer for him after he was just recently named the RiteWay’s Player of the Game against the Colt 45’s.
In the bottom of the first, Daniel Davila was tasked with the start for the Old Pueblo tribe and he made quick work of the Grasshoppers, striking out three for his first inning. Davila did an impressive job with traffic on the bases and securing the lock down inning.
Davila continued to lock down the side once again. He ended the second inning with two strikeouts and a groundout produced by some weak contact. Then once again doing the same in the third inning, two strikeouts and a fly out to the center fielder.
The bottom of the fourth inning, brought up some traffic on the bases for Davila and after an double, an error, a unearned run from a result of the error, and a hit by pitch, Davila was able to it down and produce some weak contact for a routine ground ball to shortstop.
That was the end of Daniel Davila’s night but he had an amazing start once again. Through four innings, he only allowed three hits, zero walks, zero earned runs and walked away with eight strikeouts. His command was also pin point on Friday, with 32 of his 36 of his pitches being called strikes. Davila’s performance also earned him the win, which was his second of the year.
In the top of the fifth inning, John Montiel got the rally started with a single on a ground ball hit to third and showed off speed and beat the throw. David Hendrick was due-up and he also was able to do the same, getting a single.
With two runners on and Angel Faras up to bat, he was ahead of the count 3-0 and then was hit by pitch, advancing all the runners. Manny Lopez coming off the announcement as well of Team USA, he was able to reach on an error, driving in two runs and advancing to second.
Hector Torres also doubled on a line drive to right field and was able to bring in Manny Lopez to touch home plate.
The bottom of the fifth inning brought in Danifer Diaz to relief Daniel Davila and despite having the bases loaded at one point, Diaz was able to lock down the Grasshoppers. He got two of the three outs on weak contact with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Diaz had 3 runs scored, with one of those being earned after an error brought the first baserunner on. Despite the stressful inning, Diaz did solid work, and forced an out on weak contact, then a strikeout to make it two outs. The inning was ended on the base paths after a runner was caught trying to steal.
Danifer Diaz came out in the seventh inning, and with two runners on the base path, he was able to get three quick outs after a sacrifice bunt to get the first out. The second out resulted in the runner trying to steal home, and after a weak grounder to third, that shut out the inning for Diaz. This ended Diaz’s night and he was able to walk away with only two hits allowed, 1 earned run, and 2 strikeouts for 3.0 innings of work. A solid days of work in the office for Diaz.
Alex Gamez then came in for the eighth inning to relieve Diaz, and all he needed was 11 pitches, all of them were strikes. Gamez faced four batters, and was able to get 3 punchouts. Just an amazing inning of work for Gamez.
Then in the top of the ninth, the Tribe scored one run but that is all they needed to close this one out. Kaiden Reeve got the traffic going with a single, but he wasn’t done there. Reeve showed off his awareness on the base paths and after a wild pitch, he was able to advance to second. Reeve was in prime scoring position for Cesar Santiago, who was up to the plate.
After a four pitch battle, he hit a double to right field, scoring the Tribe ninth run of the night.
Tyler Jacobsen came in to relieve Alex Gamez and was tasked to close the game. Jacobsen ended the game with 4 earned runs but showed solid work by all his three outs coming on weak contact. Jacobsen got the third out and the Tribe walked away with the win, 9-8, with some super impressive pitching to show off as well for those fireworks they provided on offense.
Angel Faras (1 RBI), Manny Lopez, Hector Torres (1 RBI), John Montiel and Cris Tejada all walked away with hits on Friday, with Kaiden Reeve (2 RBI) and David Hendrick having a multi-hit night with two hits each, and Cesar Santiago (2 RBI) ending the night with three hits.
Daniel Davila, Danifer Diaz, Alex Gamez and Tyler Jacobsen all combined for 13 strikeouts, 10 hits allowed and 5 earned runs (8 R).
Cesar Santiago walked away with RiteWay’s Player of the Game Award handed out by the Tribe for his 3-4 performance which drove in 2 RBI’s.
Saturday’s intrasquad showdown between the Old Pueblo Tribe Gold and Red squads at Joaquin Murrieta Park brought fireworks at the plate and impressive flashes on the mound. The Gold squad delivered a commanding 20-4 win, fueled by a relentless offense that piled up 17 hits and 12 walks, with JoJo Escarcega and Matt Jankowski leading the charge.
Escarcega was electric at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs, two walks, and six total bases. He drove in two on a homer to left in the third, singled in runs during both the sixth and seventh innings, and was the clear offensive catalyst.
Jankowski matched Escarcega with three hits of his own and added two RBIs, two walks, and a pair of runs scored. Batting back-to-back in the lineup, the duo combined for six hits and six RBIs on the night.
Old Pueblo Gold turned the tide in the bottom of the third inning after falling behind 2-0 early. A five-run outburst gave them the lead for good, highlighted by a clutch two-run single from Tony Villegas. From there, the offense never let up.
The Gold exploded for six more runs in the sixth inning, thanks to an RBI single from Jankowski, another run-scoring single from Escarcega, a two-run double by Michael Vasquez, and RBI doubles from both Marcus Catalano and Vasquez again later.
The eighth inning was a final exclamation point—seven more runs crossed the plate. Catalano launched a solo homer to center field, while Villegas, Kaiden Reeve, Jankowski, Anthony Moreno, and Vasquez all chipped in with run-scoring hits. Moreno drove in two with a single, and Vasquez capped off a four-RBI day with a double.
Catalano came up big despite a late entry, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs. Vasquez finished with two doubles and four RBIs, while Villegas (2-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 R) and Reeve (2-for-5, 1 RBI, 3 R) each turned in well-rounded performances. Moreno, Angel Faras, and Cesar Santiago each added a hit to round out the lineup. Mark Lynam showcased elite patience at the plate, drawing a game-high three walks.
On the mound, Daniel Alvarez settled in nicely after giving up two early runs in the first inning. He tossed four strong innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four. After a rocky start, Alvarez produced three straight shutdown innings, including back-to-back 1-2-3 frames in the second and third. He mixed weak flyouts with timely strikeouts and finished the fourth by inducing a routine grounder to second baseman Tony Villegas.
In relief, Cris Tejada made an immediate impact. He worked a sharp fifth inning, facing just four batters while striking out three and allowing only one hit on 18 pitches in the fifth inning.
For the Red squad, Hector Torres tripled in the first and came around to score on a Manuel Lopez single, who went 2-for-4. Art Madrigal, Max Hendrix, and Torres each drove in a run, and Adriel DeLaCruz-Ramirez swiped two bases.
Juan Aguilera stood out in relief for the Gold, throwing three scoreless innings and striking out nine while walking none. He allowed just two hits and was nearly untouchable, closing the door on any hopes of a Red rally in the late innings.
In total, the game featured 24 runs, 25 hits, seven doubles, two homers, and a triple—a full display of talent, depth, and offense from both sides. But on this night, it was the Gold who walked away with the bragging rights.
Jojo Escarcega’s performance also netted him RiteWay’s Player of the Game Award, congratulations to Jojo!
As the month of July ends here, i thought it’d be fun to give a Bear Sports News Player of the Month award, we will be handing them out to both a pitcher and a batter.
First off, for the pitching side of things, i spent a really long time trying to decide to two pitchers, but i decided. Two pitchers will win for the month of July.
Daniel Davila and Juan Aguilera are your Bear Sports News Pitchers of the Month, after Davila posted a no-earned-run July, and posted 12 strikeouts across 3 games started for him. Aguilera wins due to his impressive outing of striking out 9 batters in three innings of work, and extending his scoreless streak of no runs allowed.
Daniel Davila: 2-0, 7.0 IP, 3 GS, 4 H, 12 K, 1 BB, 0.00 ERA
Juan Aguilera: 2 GP, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 10 K, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA
Then on the offensive side, it’d be pretty easy to give it to every member of the Tribe’s offense for their impressive July, but i did the hard part of narrowing it down to just one player.
Marcus Catalano is your Bear Sports News Offensive Player of the Month, after slashing a .545 across five games for the Tribe, including 2 HR’s, Catalano has been on a tear at the dish for the last few games, and it’s been noticeable, Marcus has the highest OPS across the team, with players who have played a minimum of three games. He’s been on a tear whether it’s in a Tribe jersey, a Serpientes jersey, or even a Grasshopper jersey.
Marcus Catalano: 5 GP, 11 AB, 6 H, .545 AVG, .615 OBP, 1.888 OPS, 1.273 SLG, 2 1B, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB
Bear Sports News 
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