San Cristobal, Dominican Republic scored five runs in the fourth inning to edge out from Los Mochis, Mexico at York Field in Whittier, California Sunday, July 29. Joel Nova led the way for San Cristobal, accounting for seven of the team’s 10 runs in the 10-9 win.

San Cristobal got to work right out of the gates, getting a couple runners on first and second at the top of the first inning. Luis Castillo hit a RBI single to open up the scoring.

Yordan De los Santos followed Castillo up with a groundball just out of reach of the shortstop. De los Santos’ single resulted in two RBIs and San Cristobal ended their first at-bat ahead 3-0.

It didn’t take long for Los Mochis to get themselves back in the game. They responded immediately in the bottom half of the first.

With the bases loaded, Diego Soto launched a ball over the left fielder’s head and brought home a pair of runs. In the next at-bat, Alejandro Verdugo grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing the tying run to cross the plate for Los Mochis.

After a walk, Los Mochis had the bases loaded again with Sergio Beltran up to bat. Beltran hit a line drive two RBI single to center field and Los Mochis suddenly had the lead after a five-run first inning.

Joel Nova tied the game up for San Cristobal in the top of third with a two RBI inside the park home run. Nova crushed a ball Los Mochis’ left fielder couldn’t handle and was able to round all the bases for a 5-5 tie.

Nova broke the tie in his next at-bat, later in the fourth inning. Nova crushed another ball, this time to the gap between left and center field.

Nova was later scored thanks to a De Los Santos single. San Cristobal scored two more runs before ending their half of the inning and left the top of the fourth ahead 10-5.

Los Mochis threatened to get back into the game in the sixth inning when they had the bases loaded. Los Mochis couldn’t capitalize, though and left the bases full while only coming away with a single run.

Los Mochis nearly came back in the final inning, scoring three runs to pull within one at 10-9. Los Mochis ran out of magic, though and loss the game by a single point after the tying runner got caught trying to steal third.