Rodriguez Sets Pace as Chatsworth Rolls to 6-0 Win Over Taft

If Chatsworth High’s Mike Mancuso has learned anything as a catcher, it is never to check the location of the sun when Danny Rodriguez is on the mound.

When the slow-working Rodriguez is on the job, it often takes the patience of Job to get through the game.

“He’s always been like that,” Mancuso said. “He’s always taken his time. I haven’t seen it yet, but one of these days, (the umpire) is going to say, ‘Hey, let’s get with it.’ ”

Once Rodriguez gets in gear, though, it’s a different story. For three innings, Rodriguez labored, but before Thursday’s West Valley League game was over, Rodriguez had found the groove to lead the Chancellors to a 6-0 victory over Taft at Chatsworth.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s a W.”

It also was a CG and an SO. Rodriguez might have had his ups and downs, but he recorded Chatsworth’s first shutout of the season--and with nine strikeouts, no less. He threw 123 pitches, 72 of which were strikes.

Rodriguez (3-0) struggled early, walking four batters in the first three innings, five overall. Yet despite his occasional lack of control, Taft (4-4, 1-2) failed to advance a runner to third.

Chatsworth (6-2, 2-1 in league play) wasted no time knocking out left-hander Cory Jacobson (0-2), who faced five batters, retiring one. Benji Belfield relieved, but Reed McMackin’s two-run single keyed a three-run outburst.

Rodriguez worked through two difficult situations. In the second, Brett Reisner--who had both of Taft’s hits--singled and freshman Warren Stewart walked. Belfield, however, was called out looking at a 3-and-2 fastball with the runners moving, and Mancuso gunned down Reisner at third for a double play.

“We haven’t been hitting,” Taft Coach Rich McKeon said. “Obviously, it might not have been a great call, but the last thing I want to do is sit back and lose.”

Belfield was again in the middle of a Rodriguez mess in the fifth. With runners again on first and second, Belfield sent a screaming liner to center that was hauled in by a diving Scott Carpenter (three hits).

“He’s a pretty tough hitter,” Rodriguez said of Belfield. “Those two plays saved the shutout.”