LAKEWOOD \u2013 The Lakewood baseball team blew a three-run lead in the top of the seventh inning but pulled out a walk-off victory against Long Beach Poly, 7-6, with a run in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday in a Moore League game at Lakewood High School.<\/p>\n
Poly had tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning before the Lancers scored the winning run on a wild pitch and throwing error by the Jackrabbits.<\/p>\n
Lakewood coach Spud O\u2019Neil was relieved to see his team benefit from an opponent\u2019s error rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been losing on plays like that at the end,\u201d O\u2019Neil said. \u201cHopefully the tide is turning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lathan Rivas started for Lakewood (9-15 overall, 6-2 league) and pitched 4 1\/3 innings. He allowed four hits and two runs, both earned, struck out five and walked two.<\/p>\n
Jayden Pea earned the win after blowing the save for Lakewood. Pea allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one.<\/p>\n
The Lancers\u2019 Anthony Rueda went 2 for 4 with a double and drove in a run. Joel Melena went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.<\/p>\n
Lakewood led 4-3 in the sixth inning before extending its lead with runs.<\/p>\n
Xavier Nunez reached on an error and later scored from second on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Rueda. Melena drove in Rueda with a hard single to put Lakewood ahead 6-3.<\/p>\n
Long Beach Poly (14-9, 5-3) mounted its comeback in the seventh. With one out, Tate Hammond hit a ground-rule double to center that scored Will Trunnelle and cut Lakewood\u2019s lead to 6-4.<\/p>\n
With runners on second and third and one out, Caleb Safotu drove in Az Zuger with a ground ball. Fausto Gaxiola III followed with a single to left field that drove in Hammond and tied the game 6-6.<\/p>\n
Long Beach Poly starter Ryan King lasted four innings, allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) and struck out four.<\/p>\n
Malakai Pruitt suffered the loss for Poly. He pitched three innings, allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two.<\/p>\n
Gaxiola led Poly at the plate by going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.<\/p>\n
In the bottom of the seventh, Lakewood\u2019s Nick Gallegos reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He took off for third base on another wild pitch and drew an errant throw to third base, which allowed Gallegos to score the winning run.<\/p>\n
Poly coach Soloman Williams highlighted his team\u2019s defense issues in the loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if we made six or seven errors,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut you can\u2019t beat a good team like Lakewood kicking the ball around like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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