Birmingham's Masen Ruiz hits three-run pinch-hit triple to produce championship moment at Dodger Stadium

Masen Ruiz came off the bench for Birmingham in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and the bases loaded in a tied City Section Open Division championship game against El Camino Real. After leaving Chatsworth for Birmingham following his uncle’s resignation, Ruiz had spent much of the season on the bench and had not batted since May 7. Called upon in a high-pressure moment, he hit a three-run triple over the right fielder’s head, driving in runs and giving Birmingham a lead. Birmingham went on to win 4-2, earning its ninth City baseball title and its first City and West Valley League double in coach Matt Mowry’s 20 seasons. Aidan Martinez then provided key strikeouts from the bullpen.

"In the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday at Dodger Stadium in the City Section Open Division championship game, pinch-hitter Masen Ruiz stepped to the plate for Birmingham with two outs and the bases loaded in a tie game against El Camino Real. It was months ago that Ruiz left Chatsworth for Birmingham after the resignation of coach Marcus Alvarado, his uncle. He was one of Chatsworth's best players as a junior outfielder but rode the bench for much of Birmingham's season."

"Called upon in the most pressurized of situations, Ruiz hit the ball over the head of El Camino Real right fielder Ryan Glassman for a three-run triple to key Birmingham's 4-2 victory. It was Birmingham's ninth City baseball title and first time in coach Matt Mowry's 20 seasons that he's won a City title and West Valley League title in the same season. Standing on third base with the Birmingham crowd roaring, Ruiz said, "Honestly, I didn't know what was going on. I blacked out.""

"Ruiz, the grandson of former Granada Hills Kennedy coach Manny Alvarado, had people telling him to be patient and be ready when an opportunity presented itself. He hadn't batted since May 7 against Cleveland. Anddid he deliver with a drive that rolled to the right-field fence off pitcher Hudson December and finally gave the Patriots breathing room. "If my name was called, I was going to do anything for the win," Ruiz said."

"Nathan Soto made it to the sixth inning for Birmingham before closer Aidan Martinez and his 92 mph fastball was summoned from the bullpen. He struck out two batters when El Camino Real had runners on second and third. Then he struck out two more in the seventh. Martinez missed last season because of Tommy John surgery but"

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