Blues are Hot. Blues Stay Hot.

By: Julianne Shivers/SLO Blues

San Luis Obispo, Ca. – The Blues continue to find ways to keep their winning streak alive, defeating the Stompers 3-2 to complete the series sweep.

The Blues scored three runs on five hits in an 11-inning battle, earning their 12th win of the season and 11th consecutive victory. Pitching dominated on both sides, with the game remaining scoreless until the fifth inning.

Kyle Becker went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks, making him one of the Blues' most productive hitters at the plate. Diego Murillo, Miles Mador, and CJ Moran each drove in a run, with Mador delivering the game-winning RBI. Mador, Moran, and Arroyo Seco Saints infielder Brayden Flores are tied for third in the California Collegiate League with 11 RBIs. Kutter-Gage Webb and Kevin Spear each added a stolen base.

Brent Gallegos earned the win after pitching one scoreless inning and striking out every batter he faced. Gallegos entered the game in the 11th inning with the score tied 2-2 and escaped the frame, handing the game over to Miles Mador to work his Sinsheimer magic.

Mador continues to be a staple in the Blues lineup, finding ways to deliver when the team needs him most. He stepped to the plate with the game on the line and Webb standing on second base. In one of the most pressure-filled situations, Mador still found a way to stay calm.

"When I'm in the box, I sell myself on every at-bat," Mador said. "I just let go, trust my training, and whatever result happens, happens."

Mador not only trusts himself but also relies on his family to help him through high-pressure moments.

"I get it from my mom," Mador said. "We do a lot of breathing exercises, a lot of meditation, and a lot of yoga together."

After recording the first walk-off hit of his life, the Atlanta native also spoke about the energy surrounding the team. Using a phrase Blues fans have heard throughout this winning streak, Mador summed up the team's mindset.

"Emotions are high. I mean, Blues are hot. Blues stay hot," Mador said. "The whole league, we're coming for them. We're coming for it all."

The Blues will hit the road for the third time this season to face the MLB Academy Barons in Compton, California, on June 18, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The Blues will look to keep the winning streak alive and extend it to 12 before returning to Sinsheimer Stadium on Friday, June 19.

Play-by-play

1 | Quincy Winkler was the starter for the Blues. Winkler faced four batters from the Stompers. Stompers center fielder, Trent Keys, led off with a groundout to short. Chase Taylor hit a single into short for the Stompers first hit on the day. Hunter Carlson flew out to left. Third baseman Wesley Bass ended the inning, popping up to Diego Murillo at second. It was a 1-2-3 inning for the Stompers starter Taber Fast. Fast faced Kyle Becker, Diego Murillo, and Kutter-Gage Webb. Becker flew out to left, Murillo flew out to center, and Webb popped up to third to end the inning.

2 | Winkler came back into the game for the Blues. The second inning was a quick one with Tino Vasell and Nick Sebastiani striking out. Misael Uriepero lined out to Brady Alves at second. Fast faced only four Blues in the second. Miles Mador was hit to get him to first. Sean Rivas struck out, Mason Ashlock flew out to right, Blasi grounded out to Fast who tossed it to Hunter Carlson to end the inning.

3 | It was another 1-2-3 inning for Winkler. Gage McCowen struck out to lead off the inning. Caze Derammelaere grounded out to second. Keys was the last batter of the inning and he grounded out to short to end it. The Blues were able to get a runner in scoring position in the third but were unable to capitalize on it. Spear drew a walk to lead off the inning. Alves popped up to third. Becker also drew a walk in his appearance to have two runners on. The Blues attempted a double steal but Becker was gunned down at second by Stompers catcher, McCowen. Spear was able to advance to third on this double steal. The inning ended with Murillo grounding out to short.

4 | Winkler threw his third 1-2-3 inning in a row for the Blues in the fourth. Taylor flew out to center, Carlson grounded out to second, and Bass popped up to Rivas at first to end the inning. Wes Howell entered the game for the Stompers in the fourth. Webb drew a walk to reach first in the fourth. Webb was able to advance to second on a wild pitch. Mador grounded out to third but was able to advance Webb to third. Rivas struck out and Ashlock grounded out to short for the last out of the inning.

5 | The Stompers scored their first run of the series in the fifth. Winkler stayed on the mound for the Blues. Vasell was able to slide into second with a double hit deep into right. Sebastiani struck out as well as Uripero. Vasell was able to steal a base to advance to third. McCowen reached first and scored Vasell after hitting one right back to Winkler that bounced off his heel and into Alves' glove who wasn't able to field it and was given an error on the play. Derammelaere ended the inning flying out to left. The fifth saw the Blues end the Stompers no hitter. Blasi led off the inning, popping up to first. Spear collected the Blues first hit with a single into shallow left. Alves grounded out to first for an unassisted out. Becker walked to have two runners on for the first time of the night. Murillo ended the inning before any damage was done with a flyout to center. 

6 | The Blues kept Winkler in the sixth for his longest appearance of the season. Keys led off with an infield single shot at Murillo. Taylor and Carlson struck out. Bass was the last out of the inning, flying out to left. It was a 1-2-3 inning for the Blues offense facing Luke Zmolik, a new arm for the Stompers. Both Webb and Mador went down in order swinging. Rivas ended the inning flying out to right. 

7 | Tre Legrone entered the game in the seventh for the Blues. He had a productive inning of work going 1-2-3 in his second appearance on the mound. Vasell struck out, Sebastiani grounded out to third, and Eripero grounded out to short. The Stompers put a new arm on the mound in the seventh inning with Devan Laguinto. Ashlock led off with a flyout to center. Blasi grounded out to third. Spear reached base for the third time on the night with a walk. Alves ended the inning with a flyout to left.

8 | The top of the eighth saw four batters to the plate for the Stompers. Legrone stayed in to keep it a 1-0 ball game. McCowen grounded out to third. Derammelaere struck out. Keys was hit to reach first. The inning was over right after with Taylor popping up to Murillo at short. The Blues offense was able to respond to the Stompers lone run with one of their own in the bottom of the inning. Becker led off with a double hit deep into center-left field. Murillo came to the plate and attempted a sac bunt but Stomper's first baseman, Carlson, was able to field it and toss it to third for the tag on Becker. Murillo reached on the fielder's choice. Murillo headed back to the dugout shortly after being tagged out trying to steal second. Webb and Mador both drew walks with Webb stealing a base. Moran was the Blues savior in the inning coming in to pinch hit for Rivas. Moran hit a soft single into right field that was able to score Webb and make it a 1-1 ball game. Mateo Heredia entered the game for the Stompers facing Ashlock who ended the threat with a groundout to first. 

9 | Chance Jasso entered the game in his ninth appearance of the season. Carlson was the first batter he faced with Carlson grounding out to second. Bass was the next batter and reached on a hit-by-pitch. Bass stole a base to stand on second. The next two batters, Sebastiani and Uripero, struck out to end the inning. The Blues bottom of the order came to the plate in the ninth. Hixenbaugh pinch hit for Blasi and he flew out to left. Spear failed to reach base for the first time on the night, popping up to the catcher. The last out of the inning came from Alves who struck out to send the game to extras.

10 | The top of the tenth was a stressful one with the Stompers scoring on an error by Jasso. Sebastiani was the automatic runner for the Stompers before the inning started. McCowen singled but Jasso tried to throw McCowen out at first with no one covering. Sebastiani was able to score on the error and McCowen advanced to third on the error. Derammelaere grounded out back to Jasso who tossed to Moran on first. Keys struck out to give the Blues two outs. Carlson ended the inning grounding out to Murillo who stepped on second for the unassisted out. The Blues make it a ball game tying it in the bottom of the tenth. Alves was the automatic runner. Becker struck out looking to lead off. Murillo was the savior for the Blues hitting a single past the diving shortstop to score Alves. Murillo was tagged out at second trying to stretch his single. Webb ended the inning with a flyout to right. 

11 | Brent Gallegos entered in the eleventh and made it a quick one going 1-2-3. Energy was high as the Blues got out of the inning with no damage. Bass, Vasell, and pinch hitter, Ryland Heckman all came to the plate and all went down swinging. Miles Mador was the story of the night hitting a single out into center left field to score Webb and walk-off the game 3-2.