In a game that had no bearing on the postseason, the Patterson Pirates and Stockton Tigres fought it out in their Cal-Mex Baseball League regular season finale at Stribley Park in Stockton on Sunday, Sept 6, with the Pirates taking a 4-3 win.

For the Pirates, the game was a chance to get their pitchers some work, let the regulars get some at-bats and head back to Stockton for a rematch with the Tigres in their playoff opener on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Patterson (13-6) used three pitchers in the game and tinkered with its offense throughout.

“We wanted all of our pitchers to throw a few innings before the playoffs,” Patterson player-coach Jose Garza said. “We also tried out some new things with our offense. We practiced some hit-and-run plays, stole some bases and worked on getting our swings right.”

With both teams already thinking about the postseason, it was a game that was approached more with a May feel than a September feel. When the game was over, the Pirates celebrated the victory more than the Tigres despaired about the loss.

“It was great to win the game, but it didn’t mean all that much to either team,” Garza said. “(Both teams) used the game to fine-tune pitching, hitting and defense. That’s what was important.”

Tied at 3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Patterson’s Shondell Jones singled home Garza with the game-winning run.

Garza went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk and two runs. Teammate Rafa Arroyo went 2-for-4 with an RBI. And Jones collected the win, tossing the game’s final three innings.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep of the Tigres.

Patterson now faces the Tigres in a best-of-three opening round series.

“We feel we have a bit of an advantage, having seen all of their pitchers,” Garza said. “We just want to do what we do best — play well behind our pitching and score some runs.”

In a clubhouse mixed with the youthful exuberance of players experiencing the postseason for the first time and wily, seasoned athletes, Garza carries with him veteran lessons, many learned in harsh fashion.

Last year’s quarterfinals exit still stings and shows that in the playoffs — particularly in a three-game series — there are no guarantees.

“Last year when we went to the postseason, I liked our chances,” Garza said. “I thought we had a good team, but we didn’t win. This year, I think we have a good team, and I like our chances. We’ll see what happens.”