Palatine supports Miramontes

Alex Miramontes has received double-figure run support in his 4 victories.

But the Palatine senior right-hander hasn’t needed much offensive help in his last two starts. Miramontes threw his second straight shutout as he allowed only 2 fifth-inning singles Friday afternoon.

And the Pirates saved him a couple of innings by ending their Mid-Suburban League baseball crossover in the fifth with a 10-0 victory over visiting Elk Grove.

Miramontes (4-2) gave up 2 of his 3 walks in the first inning but a nice backhand play in the hole by shortstop Cody Bobbit and a scoop at first base by Joe Walsh left runners at second and third.

“At first I was probably thinking too much but as soon as I got the help behind me I got more relaxed,” said Miramontes, who relied mainly on his slider and fastball to get 3 strikeouts and throw 47 of his 73 pitches for strikes. “That made it a lot easier to throw.”

So did going out in the second inning with a 4-0 lead. Kevin Becker had an RBI double, Jim Smearman doubled and the first of 3 doubles by Scott Schneberger drove in 2 runs off Elk Grove (12-8, 6-3) ace Mike D’Angelo.

Mike Czarnik also had an RBI double in the first as the Pirates (14-11, 5-3) won their third straight and stayed 1½ games out of the West lead going into today’s 11 a.m. visit by first-place Fremd.

Elk Grove committed an error and also had a chance to get out of the first inning down only 1-0 on a high chopper Walsh beat out for a hit.

“For us the tone was set real early when we gave them multiple outs in the first inning,” said Elk Grove coach Terry Beyna. “Combine that with leaving balls up in the strike zone to a good-hitting team with the wind blowing out and it cost us.”

Eight of Palatine’s 11 hits were to center or the opposite field. Dan Haze’s double started a 4-run third where Walsh tripled, Schneberger doubled and Jesse Bobbit drilled a 2-run homer to right.

“I thought we did a good job of staying through the middle and allowing the ball to travel and seeing the ball deep,” said Palatine coach Paul Belo. “We adjusted very well.”

Miramontes retired 10 straight before Peter Kinsella singled for Elk Grove’s first hit with one out in the fifth. A double play by second baseman Vince Portera and Bobbit ended a bases-loaded threat.

“Everything is starting to go how we want it,” Miramontes said. “We started slow but we’re starting to push at crunch time.”