Valbuena’s homer lifts Astros into second place tie

The battle between the Astros and Cardinals for second place in the

Ocean View Little League Majors Division standings Saturday featured an

excellent pitching duel, but the game’s fate was decided in the bottom of

the sixth inning when Trey Valbuena delivered a two-run home run to lift

the Astros to a 2-1 victory.

The win moved the Astros into a tie for second place with the

Cardinals heading into the stretch drive of the second half season.

The Astros rally began when Eric Jaso came up with a one out single,

and Valbuena saved the game with his two out homer.

Valbuena shared pitching duties with Dallas Walters for the Astros,

and Brett Sterbens and Chris Palmer saw action for the Cardinals.

In other games:

Angels 10, Mariners 8

The Angels put on a power display by hitting three home runs in the

first three inning.

Jon Grothe started the onslaught with a three-run home run in the

second inning, and after a Thomas Burns single, Justin Chambers smacked a

two-run home run. Brian Hoops, who also had a two-run double and was

responsible for five RBI overall, gained three of those runs on a

three-run home run in the third inning.

Jeff Hennes notched the pitching win, and Troy Davis got the save.

Tomas Yoo and Light Walleman each had two hits, Dylan McDonald

doubled, and Andy Chersin had a hit and scored three runs for the

Mariners.

Reds 8, Dodgers 3

Hank Conger homered among two hits, had three RBI, and scored three

runs, and pitchers Jeff Van Doornum, Adrian Conger, and James Kang held

the Dodgers in check, to lead the Reds; Rory Jones hit a solo home run

for the Dodgers.