Ageless Johnny Gonzalez does it again for Upper Darby
MARPLE – Johnny Gonzalez had a cold beer in one hand and cigarette in the other moments after he pitched his second complete game in less than 72 hours.
Fans greeted him to chat and offer congratulations.
“I don’t know how he does it,” said one admirer.
It was just another day at the yard for the 49-year-old, whose assortment of moving low speed pitches helped lead the Blue Sox to a 10-3 victory over Springfield in the deciding Game 5 of a Delco League semifinals playoff series.
“I feel good. Same old,” said Gonzalez, who threw 84 pitches. “I had 77 (pitches) on Wednesday. It was the fastball today. It looked like I had juice in the seventh.”
Gonzalez allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
“The key was no walks,” he said.
The visiting Colonials, who forced a Game 5 with an exhausting, come-from-behind win Friday evening, swung early and often, which played right into Gonzalez’s hands. He rolled three double play balls, including one that he started when he caught a pop up in front of the plate and fired to first base to get a runner who was going on the pitch.
“It’s unbelievable. He’s 49 years old and, you know, the competition in this league is great,” Yates said. “You have Division I pitchers and Division I hitters. I mean, for him just to get up there and carve everybody that he faces… he just does an amazing job and it’s insane to watch him. Honestly, as a young guy, if you’re a young pitcher, that’s who you should watch if you’re in this league. All you have to do is get in there and throw strikes. He had zero walks today I’m pretty sure. I mean, look what happens.
“If he wanted to, he could pitch in college today.”
Yates had a good series in the middle of a potent UD lineup.
“I’m just trying to get the bat on the ball…and I think confidence goes a long way,” he said. “We wanted to hit the ball like we have been and we know Johnny’s going to throw strikes all game. We knew he was going to have our backs and we were going to have his back today.
Springfield manager Steve Trainor called on Mike Smith to start the game. The Springfield High grad lasted only two innings. With the Colonials short on length, four relievers got the ball. Kyle Calderaro suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits in 1.1 innings.
We didn’t know who we were (facing) out there today, but it didn’t really matter,” Yates said.
Springfield scored first in the second inning when Mitch Helmandlar beat out an errant throw by third baseman Max Anastasio, which enabled Gabe Encarnacion to cross the plate. Upper Darby answered with two runs in the bottom half as catcher Christian Strickland roped an RBI double.
Will Kelley, Reed Farrell and Gerard Sweeney led off the third with three straight singles for Springfield. A sacrifice fly by Sean Phelan tied the game at two, but Gonzalez got Norm Donkin to ground into a 6-3 twin killing to end the rally.
The Blue Sox plated four runs in the third to take a 6-2 advantage. Anastasio’s two-RBI double was the big blow. UD added on with solo runs in the fourth and fifth and a two-spot in the sixth. Anastasio, Yates and Joey Suppa all contributed RBI singles.