Jul 4, 2008

Two White Sox pitchers shut down Santa Clara

By Julio Lara / Daily News Correspondent

Santa Clara Aztecs fans came into Washington Park on Thursday night expecting fireworks. They have Aaron Cutts to thank for going home disappointed.

The former Aragon Don stifled the high-octane Aztecs offense and got plenty of pyrotechnic support from his San Mateo teammates as the White Sox started off the Burlingame July 4th Tournament by defeating Santa Clara 8-3. Cutts was in control from the get-go, battling what appeared to be an miniscule strike zone throughout the game. He left after pitching 5 1/3 innings of five-hit baseball - throwing up zeroes on the scoreboard with the exception of the three-run fourth.

"I felt really good," Cutts said. "I started to lose it a little there and had to rely on my mechanics a little more."

Cutts got himself out of trouble right off the bat - he walked back-to-back hitters in the top of the first, this after getting two quick outs, and got himself out of the inning with a ground ball to short.

San Mateo came up in its half of the first and showed firepower of its own. Mike Stosz (Menlo-Atherton High) found himself at first after an error to lead things off. He scored two batters later when former Aragon standout Ryan Hamilton doubled. After a Chris Vargas (Skyline College) groundout and a Nick Borg (Aragon High-San Mateo) walk, former San Mateo Bearcat Nate Davidson doubled home a pair to give the White Sox a 3-0 lead.

Cutts no-hit the Aztecs through three innings, and before he surrendered a knock his teammates had spotted him another pair of runs.

Hamilton led off the third with his second hit - a single - and came around to score on an error by the Santa Clara catcher when his attempt at a 1-2-3 double play ended up flying over the first baseman and into right field. Davidson scored on a fielder's choice later in the inning.

The run support helped Cutts.

"Once (they) scored the first run, I said 'they're playing catch-up now.' It makes a difference. The offense contributed the most, more than I did."

Down 5-0 the Aztecs showed some life. Five straight batters reached base to start off the fourth against Cutts, three on hits, but a 4-6-3 double play minimized the damage and the White Sox came out of the frame still leading by a pair of runs.

The three runs was all Santa Clara could manage. Even when Cutts came out of the game, the Santa Clara offense was kept at bay. TJ Dinges came in (Aragon) and was just as good, if not better, than his starting teammate.

The White Sox got the three runs back rather quickly - a couple of walks and a couple of singles in the frame, including Borg's knock, helped San Mateo regain its five-run lead.

The five-run lead would prove to be plenty. Dinges struck out the final two to end things for the White Sox.