LOS ANGELES – Diego Barrera once again impressed on the mound, Diego Baqueiro homered, and Merrick Baldo recorded his sixth save of the season in the Lions 2-1 victory over Portland on Friday night in Portland, Ore.  

 

Barrera went 7.2 innings and allowed only one run, something that has become commonplace in his starts. Barrera shut down the Pilots to the tune of six strikeouts, walked only one and scattered five hits in his fifth win of the season. Barrera is 4-0 in conference play, with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP to go with it. The Lions have won every start this season in which Barrera has thrown at least seven innings. 

 

Baqueiro provided all of the offense for the Lions with his first-inning blast. Khadim Diaw was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and advanced to second on his first stolen base of the season. Baqueiro came up with two outs and belted a 2-2 pitch out to left. It was his third homer of the season.  

 

The Pilots got one back in the sixth on a bloop single, but the Barrera got a double play ball to end the inning and leave a runner stranded on third.  

 

Baldo came on in relief of Barrera in the eighth and got the final four outs of the game, though not without adding a little drama. A leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt in the ninth put the pressure on. Baldo was unfazed and punched out the final two batters of the game to earn the save.  

 

Cole Roberts notched a pair of hits in the matchup, with Diaw and Devan Ornelas adding a hit apiece.  

 

With the win, the Lions moved into sole possession of first place in the West Coast Conference.  

 

The Lions and Pilots will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 beginning at 11:00 a.m. (PT). Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.