Petrini strong in Cal's win over Fresno State

BERKELEY -- Fans made the trip to Evans Diamond at the University of California to see one particular kid from San Bruno pitch. They got to see three. While Fresno State junior Greg Gonzalez -- a Capuchino High graduate, Skyline College transfer, and San Bruno legend -- did impress late in the game, and Riordan grad Tom Harlan, also a San Bruno native, also pitched in relief for Fresno State, it was Golden Bears left-hander Chris Petrini who stole the show in Cal's dramatic 8-5 win. Petrini, also from San Bruno, tabbed his longest outing of the year, working 6 1/3 innings to take a no-decision. It's the senior's third start since returning from a ligament injury to his right foot. "I felt good," Petrini said. "I just wanted to give us a chance to win after a rough weekend. ... I wanted to throw up as many zeroes as I could to help get our offense back in the swing of things." The big southpaw allowed just two runs on five hits and departed in the seventh inning with a 4-1 lead. Petrini was in line for his first win of the year until Fresno State tied it 5-5 in the eighth. Enter right fielder Jimmy Bosco, one of four Cal freshman in yesterday's starting lineup. Bosco was having a rough day. Admittedly, the left-handed No. 6 hitter had been lackadaisical at the plate. Through the seventh inning he was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. And with Fresno State rallying in the top of the eighth, Bosco gambled by diving for a ball in the wrong situation. With two on and one out, and Cal leading 5-3, he could not come up with a sinking line drive off the bat of Steve Detwiler. Subsequently, the ball winged off Bosco's glove and went for a game-tying triple. Bosco seized his chance at redemption in the bottom of the eighth, though. With the bases loaded and one out, the lefty got a first-pitch fastball and cranked a two-run single to left for what would stand as the game-winning hit. "After that [play in the top of the eighth] I knew I had to stay in it (mentally) because my turn at bat was coming up," Bosco said. "One at bat in a game can change the outlook of a game." Cal added a run on a squeeze bunt to up its lead to 8-5 and was threatening to break the game open by loading the bases with one out. At that point, Fresno State turned to Gonzalez. The stoic right-hander entered to a surge of applause from the seats behind home plate. Gonzalez stranded all three Cal runners, retiring both batters he faced with a sharply dipping fastball, a deceptive change and a tight breaking ball with which he struck out Brian Guinn to end the inning. Cal lefty Justin Jones earned the win, upping his team-leading record to 5-2. Fresno State lefty Josh Poytress took the loss, his record falling to 3-2. Sophomore right-hander Matt Flemer earned his first save of the year by working a perfect ninth. Petrini dazzled with his breaking pitch as well. He utilized it to steal the first strike against seven Fresno State batters. For the first time this season, Petrini was locating all four of his pitches, including a heavy high-80s fastball and a steady changeup, which has been the most elusive pitch in his repertoire since he underwent Tommy John surgery following his freshman season. "It's taken us a little while to find the right niche with him," Cal manager David Esquer said. Now, Petrini is vying for a shot at the weekend rotation. Esquer pointed to current Sunday starter Dixon Anderson's previous success out of the bullpen as an opportunity to shake things up. The sophomore right hander threw an inning of scoreless relief in Petrini's previous start March 23 at USF. Then again, Anderson also went seven innings Sunday to give the Bears their only quality start while being swept at Arizona State. As a fifth-year senior, time is a factor for Petrini, the lefty out of Sacred Heart Cathedral. He is trying to take it all in stride. "I try not to put the whole pressure of playing professional baseball on myself because I've seen guys do that and struggle the whole season," Petrini said. "Still, that would be my dream."