Portales baseball improves to 8-1 in district

MORIARTY — Portales High baseball keeps rolling along in its district, as the Rams scored 29 runs in Saturday's doubleheader victory over Moriarty to improve to 8-1 in District 4-4A play.

The Rams took Game 1, 9-4, before needing just six innings to dispose of the Pintos in Game 2, 20-6.

"We played really well," Rams coach Dusty Nusser said. "We didn't play well, defensively, in the first game. (But) Jordan Garcia pitched his butt off. Jordan's got a mentality that he doesn't let anything bother him, so kudos to Jordan for getting the job done."

Garcia went the distance in Game 1, allowing just threw hits and two earned runs, while striking out eight and walking just one. Garcia's performance was especially impressive considering that Portales (13-8, 8-1) committed nine errors.

The Rams gave up two runs in both the first and second innings to fall behind Moriarty (5-17, 1-8), 4-2. However, three runs in the top of the sixth put the Rams back in front, while they added two more in the seventh. Garcia also got it done at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI.

The second game, however, was a vast improvement defensively for Portales. The Rams committed just one error, which was a good thing, considering that they wanted to work their young pitchers in the second game, and in all, three Portales youngsters took the hill.

Errors or not, however, didn't make a difference in Game 2. Portales put up 20 runs, including 10 in the fourth inning. Garcia went 2-for-6 with four RBIs and three runs, while Josiah Lucero was 2-for-6 with four runs, and Baylor Diaz was 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Portales finished the game with 17 hits — seven players had at least two hits apiece.

According to Nusser, what impresses him most about the Rams' 8-1 start in district action is how his team has been able to overcome another opponent — Mother Nature.

"Just kind of handling the elements," Nusser said. "The Hope series and Friday's game (against Moriarty), we had a lot of wind and rough weather. (Especially) to handle being on the road while that's happening. It's nice that we get to go back home now."

The Rams, who haven't had a home game since April 3, will return home on Tuesday to host Eunice. Tuesday's game will mark a five-game homestand to end the regular season, which concludes with a three-game set against district foe NMMI next Saturday.