Tucson Saguaros Hold Off High Desert Yardbirds 4-3

June 1 2019 The Tucson Saguaros defeated the High Desert Yardbirds 4-3 at Cherry Field, using a three-run first inning and a one-run fifth to build an early lead. High Desert answered with two runs in the sixth and one in the eighth, but Tucson held on for the one-run victory. Tucson finished with six hits while the Yardbirds collected nine.

J. Garnett led the Saguaros with two hits in four at-bats, including a home run, and drove in all three of Tucson’s runs. Daniel Diaz added two hits and scored once, while Riley Richarz scored twice. High Desert’s Hector Morales hit a home run and recorded two RBI. D. Reddy also had two hits for the Yardbirds.

Robby Medel earned the win for Tucson after allowing seven hits and two runs, two earned, in 5.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked two. Joe Rivera worked a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts and one walk to record the save. Tucson’s bullpen also received scoreless outings from Connor McGuinness, Drake Bannerman and Sean Lubreski.

Stephen Keskinidis took the loss for High Desert after four innings in which he allowed six hits and four runs, two earned, while striking out six and walking three. Austin Brown, Chase Martin and John Kopicky combined for four scoreless innings in relief, but the Yardbirds could not complete the comeback.