Miranda’s Little Hit Scores Big Run as Kennedy Rallies, 3-2

SUN VALLEY —  Of Kennedy High’s three talented transfers, Josh Miranda figured to be the least likely to have an impact for the Golden Cougars, at least in the season opener Wednesday against Poly.

Former Monroe teammate David Lusk started at catcher and Birmingham transfer Fernando Centeno manned right field , but Miranda began the game on the bench, temporarily losing left field to Nick Intenzo.

But it was Miranda whose pinch-hit infield single in the top of the fifth inning drove in the winning run in Kennedy’s 3-2 victory at Poly.

Miranda, who led the region with 28 stolen bases last season, beat Alfredo Flores’ throw on a ground ball to short while pinch-runner Jeremy Price scored.

“I came here to challenge myself more,” Miranda said. “If I don’t start that’s fine, I will contribute where I can.”

Christian Bartlett’s double to deep center field scored Centeno to tie the game earlier in the inning.

Kennedy, the top-ranked team in the region and ninth-ranked in the nation by USA Today, received a challenge from Poly, the defending Valley Pac-8 Conference champion.

With the Parrots trailing, 1-0, in the bottom of the fourth, Travis McGiuern led off with a walk, then advanced to third when first baseman Jon Garland couldn’t handle a pickoff throw from pitcher Derek Morse. He later scored on a ground ball by Adrian Perez. Steve Guerrero gave Poly a 2-1 lead, scoring on a single by Flores with two out.

“This was a game that had upset written all over it,” said Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado.

“But it woke us up. It was almost a perfect game for us.”

Morse, whose dominant pitching helped claim the City Section 4-A championship last year, was effective.

He gave up five hits and struck out five. He grew stronger as the game progressed, retiring the side on nine pitches in the seventh.

Poly starter Jerry Heredia matched Morse through four innings but tired in the fifth, leaving the bases loaded for reliever Gustavo Banuelos.

Banuelos gave up the single to Miranda but controlled the Golden Cougar attack, allowing only a single by David Soto over the final two innings.

Poly’s best chance to reclaim the lead came on a double by Guerrero with two out in the sixth. But Garland was able to snare a line drive by Abel Salazar to get out of the inning.

Birmingham 9, Grant 1--Junior right-hander Alberto Flores gave up one hit and struck out six in four-plus innings as the Braves routed Grant at Birmingham.

Flores had a no-hitter going before Daniel Nguyen broke it up with a fifth-inning single.

Flores was backed up offensively by Henry Salas, Arnufo Gomez and Nathan Herkelrath, who each went two for three. Herkelrath drove in two runs.

Cleveland 6, South Gate 1--Mike Schultz pitched five shutout innings for the Cavaliers. Cleveland’s Greg Walter was one for two with one run and two RBI.