SAN MATEO, Calif. — Bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth inning, with only one run separating the two teams on the field. There aren’t many situations on a baseball diamond more tense than that. Both the pitcher and the hitter know that one moment can change the entire complexion of the game.

The Walnut Creek Crawdads found themselves in that spot with one of their best arms on the mound in left-handed reliever Bradyn Barnes. Barnes had loaded the bases after some misfortune, but had gotten two straight outs to preserve his squad’s narrow lead. Barnes wasn’t out of the woods just yet, but he could see the light. Unfortunately, his next challenger was one of the Menlo Park Legends’ most dangerous hitters.

Center fielder TJ Schmalzle stepped into the right-handed batter’s box at the College of San Mateo as one of the Legends’ best hitters. Schmalzle entered Wednesday evening’s affair with an OPS near .800, hit a triple earlier in the game and was coming off a season at Fairfield University where he slashed .280/.428/.482.

The two stars of their respective teams battled into a 1-1 count, then Schmalzle got the better of Barnes. He got a pitch to hit and smacked a line drive single into left-center field, scoring two runs to give Menlo Park (5-6) a walk-off 8-7 victory over Walnut Creek (7-2). The Crawdads weren’t able to execute effectively in many aspects of the game and left San Mateo with their seven-game winning streak snapped.

Here are three takeaways.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

For most of their win streak, the Crawdads were able to simply outslug their opponents. Double-digit run outbursts were the norm and more than made up for any small mistakes that happened on the field. In a tight game, those mistakes can’t be made without far dire consequences.

The bases loaded ninth inning all started on a single to shortstop. Cam Calvillo fielded the ball in the 5-6 hole, but couldn’t throw out the Legends’ left fielder Quincy Via. It was a difficult play, but a makeable play, and Via reaching first base safely came back to bite the Crawdads as he ended up scoring the tying run.

“We didn’t make a play on that like I thought we should have,” Crawdads head coach Brant Cummings said.

After Via reached base, Walnut Creek had a chance to get him out on the basepaths. Barnes picked him off, and the Crawdads had him trapped in a pickle. Via was able to escape the rundown when Barnes couldn’t keep control of the ball in his glove on a tag attempt. It was the second squandered opportunity for the Crawdads to record an out.

A bloop single to right field followed and with runners on first and second, Menlo Park second baseman Russell Filter laid down what he intended to be a sacrifice bunt. Barnes charged off the mound to field the ball, and instead of throwing to first for the easy out, he fired over to third base, where his throw was far too late.

If things had gone just slightly differently on any of those plays, the Crawdads could’ve walked out of San Mateo with a victory. The small mistakes weren’t just limited to the ninth inning, though.

Walnut Creek’s arms struggled with command. The staff fell behind in counts, allowed wild pitches that scored base runners and walked eight Legends. The offense won’t always be able to bail out the pitching, and in those games, the command will need to improve.

“I talked to a few of these guys about their ability to command pitches like (Menlo Park right-handed starter Ray Hernandez) did today. I said, ‘If you want to be really good, you better be able to command two (pitches). If you want to be dominant, you command three (pitches) in the strike zone consistently.’”

STRUGGLES AGAINST THE STARTER

It’s taken the Crawdads’ offense a couple of innings to get the ball rolling in some games this year. It hasn’t been an uncommon sight to see the lineup struggle the first time through the order or against the starter before breaking out. Even in their 24-0 victory earlier against the San Francisco Seagulls, the Crawdads waited until the fourth inning to get on the board.

Hernandez was able to hold the Walnut Creek offense scoreless for longer than just four innings. He righty recorded 11 batters straight outs to start the game, and only allowed four hits in total. Unlike many of the other starters that Walnut Creek has seen so far this season, Hernandez was able to go deep into the game, perplexing the lineup for seven strong innings.

Hernandez attacked the Crawdads with a unique windup, reminiscent of Houston Astros right-hander Luis Garcia’s old “rock the baby” delivery. The motion wasn’t always part of Hernandez’s look, but it’s helped him elevate his game. 

“Toward the end of the season at Utah Valley, I started picking it up for rhythm,” Hernandez said. “It’s helped tremendously.” 

Menlo Park Legends and Utah Valley right hander Ray Hernandez’s windup reminds me of Houston Astros righty Luis Garica’s old “rock the baby” windup. pic.twitter.com/cyhAvuAafn

— Ethan Ignatovsky (@EthanIgnatovsky) June 19, 2025

Walnut Creek’s offense didn’t necessarily struggle with the unconventional look. Instead, they struggled against Hernandez’s stuff and his ability to control it. The rising senior pounded the strike zone and struck out seven Crawdads while only walking one. 

The walk came in Hernandez’s seventh and final inning of work. The Crawdads also recorded two singles in the inning and scored a run to finally put themselves on the board.

Walnut Creek’s offense has been elite to start the summer, but in-game adjustments against quality arms are still an area that the team needs to work on.

THIS TEAM HAS FIGHT 

While the Crawdads couldn’t muster much against Hernandez, they made the Menlo Park bullpen work. The lineup forced the Legends to use three different pitchers in a five-run eighth inning that saw Walnut Creek tie the game 6-6. 

The recipe for the Crawdads’ success in the eighth was that they didn’t beat themselves. They stayed patient against wild pitching — something that’s been a point of strength this season — and drew six free passes. 

Two walks helped to load the bases, and second baseman Chris Esquivel wore a pitch in the back to drive in the first run of the frame. The Crawdads scored two more runs directly off a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but the eighth inning wasn’t just a rally of free passes. 

Clutch at-bats where Crawdads put the ball in play helped close the gap to Menlo Park. A sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Joey Donnelly and a single into right field off the bat of third baseman Ryley Leininger each scored a run. 

The ability to put the ball in play when necessary gave Walnut Creek the lead in the ninth inning. Donnelly, who stayed in the game, recorded a productive groundout, driving in Esquivel, who reached on an error. 

While the lead didn’t last, the Crawdads took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves, showing fight and determination. While those characteristics were obvious in Wednesday’s game, they’ve been evident throughout the season. The team will need to continue to tap into that fire as the summer progresses.

By Ethan Ignatovsky