Pitcher fills in nicely after Mulcahey struggles and CV holds on for close win.

By Brandon HENSLEY

The template for winning has been laid out and so far this season the Falcons’ baseball team is executing it pretty well. While CV’s offense was mostly silent again for the second straight Pacific League game, the pitching and defense did just enough on Tuesday in winning at Burroughs High School 2-1.

The Falcons couldn’t muster much offense against Indians’ starter Dillon Disiere, but they got the biggest hit of the game early, when catcher Cam Silva smacked a two-run double into right-center field in the second inning. That proved to be the difference as Burroughs scored a run late until CV’s defense was able to make a stand.

The box score will say pitchers Troy Mulcahey and Kyle Murray combined for the win, but really it was Murray who was the standout. He relieved Mulcahey in the third inning with one out and two runners on. He got out of that jam and pitched the rest of the game, allowing a lone run in the seventh and final inning.

“It’s nothing. It’s just another day at the ballpark, because you never know what to expect,” Murray said of his job on Tuesday. “I know Troy will come back and pick me up one time when I need help so it’s not a big deal. He’ll do fine.”

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Burroughs loaded the bases on an error, a walk and a bunt hit with one out. Murray struck out Dylan Goldsack, but then a run came in on an infield hit by Chris Peale that went to shortstop Cole Currie. Currie was able to keep it from going into the outfield, which would have tied the game. The final out came when third baseman Ted Boeke charged a slow roller by Ryan Gordon and threw him out.

“Troy struggled, and Kyle came in and did a good job, and then we made a nice play there late in the game,” said CV Coach Phil Torres. “Cole kept the ball in the infield and Teddy made a nice play; that’s not an easy play on a swinging bunt.”

Disiere went six innings for Burroughs and struck out four batters. The Falcons (4-3, 2-0 in league) could never muster any attack against him, save for the second inning. Silva and Boeke were the only players with a hit. Thankfully for CV, it didn’t matter with the way Murray pitched. He struck out seven batters.

“He was throwing his curveball for strikes, and he threw his fastball for strikes. I think he threw one bad pitch,” said Torres. “Besides that he threw everything he wanted to.”

The loss dropped Burroughs to 3-10 overall and 0-1 in league.

Low scoring affairs are what the Falcons have been used to so far. They beat Pasadena last week 3-2.

“We should win [low-scoring games] with our pitching staff,” Torres said. “We need to score more runs, though. We’re better offensively than we’re showing.”

CV hosts Burbank on Friday at 7 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley, Leonard Coutin