San Miguel hasn't had much luck against Tombstone recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Vipers will be playing at home against the Yellow Jackets at 5:45 p.m. San Miguel has given up an average of 12.3 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
San Miguel lost 25-4 to Desert Christian on Tuesday.
San Miguel saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Christain Arredondo, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3. That stolen base was Arredondo's first of the season.
Meanwhile, Tombstone got the win against St. Augustine Catholic on Tuesday by a conclusive 16-2. Considering the Yellow Jackets have won eight matchups by more than seven runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
DJ Elias and Brendan Caballero made a big impact no matter where they played. On the mound, Elias struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Caballero tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Elias has been consistent for a while: he hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances. At bat, Elias scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3, while Caballero went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double. That's the most RBI Caballero has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Trey Franklin, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, four runs, and four RBI. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Erik Koehler was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
Tombstone kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 18 hits. They are undefeated (8-0) when they post 11 or more hits.
Tombstone's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-5-1. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for San Miguel, their loss dropped their record down to 1-9.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. San Miguel has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .442. However, it's not like Tombstone struggles in that department as they've averaged .452. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
San Miguel suffered a grim 14-3 defeat to Tombstone in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Vipers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
