LL World Series: New Jersey stays alive with 2-0 win over Rhode Island

Staying alive!

Players from Elmora Little League of Elizabeth, New Jersey, celebrate following its 2-0 losers' bracket victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday night. (Associated Press)

Elmora Little League of Elizabeth rallied for a pair of sixth-inning runs, then received a stellar defensive play from third baseman Derek Escobar to help solidify a 2-0 victory over Barrington LL (R.I) in a Little League World Series losers’ bracket contest Tuesday in South Williamsport, Pa.

The victory helped keep the New Jersey squad’s title hopes alive and it will now meet Eastbank Little League of River Ridge, La., on Wednesday at 11 a.m. If Elmora can find a way to win two more games (it plays Thursday if it defeats Eastbank), it will reach Saturday’s U.S. championship game.

With the game scoreless entering the sixth inning, Elmora’s Sal Garcia doubled, then advanced to third on J.R. Rosado’s single. Garcia eventually gave New Jersey the lead via a fielder’s choice and Rosado made it 2-0 when the ball got away after Barrington’s first baseman tried to nab Garcia at the plate.

"They’re smart baseball players,” Elmora manager Jairo Labrador told the New York Post. "We’ve been playing together for so long, and I trust Sal and J.R., and I’m not the type of coach to say go or stay at third. You can’t wait for the coach to make that call or you’ll never make it. I trusted them.”

Barrington, meanwhile, recorded its only hit of the game against reliever Rosado with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Rosado, who had struck out five consecutive Rhode Island hitters prior to the single, then got Barrington’s Alex Anderson to hit a hot shot to Escobar at third base.

Escobar made a nifty backhand grab before firing a strike to outstretched first baseman Yadi Mateo to record the final out.

“That throw could have been airmailed, and the player scores,” Labrador told the Post. “And Yadi’s stretch, he’s so athletic. He sleeps over, and we have dunk contests, and he brings (the) ball through his legs and everything.”

Garcia, Elmora’s starting pitcher, kept Barrington off the scoreboard for four-plus innings before Labrador lifted him for Rosado with two on and no outs in the home fifth.

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