The Bolsa Grande Matadors will square off against the Santiago Cavaliers at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. The timing is sure in Bolsa Grande's favor as the team sits on five straight wins at home while Santiago has been banged up by four consecutive losses on the road.
The home team had come away the winner the last five times Bolsa Grande and Rancho Alamitos had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Matadors walked away with a 4-1 victory over the Vaqueros on Thursday. The game was the first time the Matadors have beaten the Vaqueros on their field since April 4, 2023.
Tank Britton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up eight Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Mikey Haley Jr., who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and two doubles. That's the most doubles he has posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Santiago came up short against Saddleback on Friday, falling 9-2.
Isaiah Cortez made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went a perfect 4-for-4 with one RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Santiago's success: when he posts at least three hits the team is 2-1 (and 4-10 when he doesn't). The team also got some help courtesy of Chris Arceo, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Bolsa Grande's win bumped their record up to 11-6. As for Santiago, their loss dropped their record down to 6-11.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bolsa Grande has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .479. However, it's not like Santiago struggles in that department as they've averaged .464. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bolsa Grande took their victory against Santiago in their previous matchup back in March by a conclusive 9-0 score. Will the Matadors repeat their success, or do the Cavaliers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
