Cardinals split doubleheader with Solano

Levi Diaz pitched a three-hitter as the Carson Cardinals 18 and under baseball team routed the Solano (Calif.) Blue Jays 12-1 to gain a split in a doubleheader on Saturday at Carson High.

Ryan Henry was also impressive on the mound for the Cardinals in the opener, but was a tough luck loser in a 3-1 loss.

Diaz struck out seven in five innings in a game that was called after 4 1/2 innings due to the mercy rule. Diaz got into trouble in the first inning when a single and an error gave Solano runners at first and third with no outs.

But Diaz got out of the jam on the strength of a strike 'em out-throw 'em out double play when catcher Tony Teixeira picked off the runner at first base. Teixeira also threw out a runner trying to steal third. Diaz went on to retire 11 straight hitters before allowing a home run in the fourth.

In the first, Aaron Henry singled, Neil Holmes belted a two-run double, Matt Bowman singled and Adam Martin had a two-run single as the Cardinals took a 4-0 lead. The Cardinals exploded for eight runs in the second.

Teixeira was hit by a pitch, Diaz singled, Jon Teeter walked and Aaron Henry followed with a two-run single. Carl Winter had an RBI sacrifice fly, Holmes had an RBI single, Bowman had an RBI triple, Ryan Henry singled and Martin and John Parmenter had RBI sacrifice flies during the rally.

Aaron Henry, Holmes and Bowman all had two hits and Winter added a hit for the Cardinals.

In the opener, Ryan Henry allowed two runs in six innings, striking out six. He got out of a jam in the fourth when Solano had the bases loaded with no outs without any damage on the strength of two strikeouts.

The Cardinals scored in the seventh on Martin's RBI single. The Cardinals could only muster four hits as Winter doubled and Holmes and Parmenter added hits.