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PPBA: Pinto Yankees Beat Dodgers 15-9

A pair of six-run innings and solid defense forces a decisive game Thursday.

Fielding has been the Yankees' big strength all season, but it was their hitting that moved them to within one victory of the Pacific Palisades Pony Association's Pinto Division championship.

The Yankees beat the Dodgers 15-9 Wednesday at the Palisades Recreation Center's Field of Dreams complex to force a deciding game Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on Field 4. The Mustang and Bronco Division champions will also be determined Thursday.

Wanting to win for head coach Josh Morrow, who is in Fiji to attend a wedding, the Yankees scored six runs in the top of the first inning to put pressure on the Dodgers early.

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The Dodgers responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by Preston Barnes' three-run home run. Each team scored two in the second, then the Yankees blew the game open with six more runs in their half of the third.

"We're consistent on defense, we make most of the plays," Yankees assistant coach Alan Cohen said. "Offense is where we've struggled at times, but not in this game."

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Ian Wertlieb belted an inside-the-park homer in the third, leadoff hitter Skyler Chang went four-for-four and Jacob Winthrop was three-for-three for the Yankees, who also came up with several defensive gems to rob the Dodgers of hits.

"That's the best fielding team we've played yet," Dodgers Coach Bill Lawrence said.

Beckett Jeffries hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth for the Dodgers' last run.

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