BASEBALL: CLEVELAND SILENCED BY BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM 3, CLEVELAND 0.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Even the opponents couldn't help but congratulate Junior Garcia. As Garcia and his Birmingham High baseball teammates prepared to leave, a steady stream of Cleveland High players made their way across the field to tell Garcia how well he had just played.

Garcia pitched a complete-game shutout, retiring the final eight batters, as the Patriots of Van Nuys defeated the host Cavaliers of Reseda 3-0 Monday to remain undefeated in West Valley League play.

However, Garcia (6-0) preferred to spread the credit. After all, his two strikeouts were far below his average. He had teammates playing out of position because of injuries, but they made key defensive plays. Such team efforts are what helped Birmingham to its 17-1 start, and are what the Patriots know they need to contend in one of the region's toughest league's.

``If it wasn't for my team, we wouldn't have won,'' said Garcia, a junior right-hander.

Garcia faced a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the third inning but got out of the jam with a strikeout, a popup and a groundout.

``I was just thinking, 'Let 'em hit it,' ''Garcia said. ``My defense was playing great.''

Cleveland's Robert Marcial, who led off the fifth with a double and reached third, was the only other Cavaliers batter to get on base the rest of the way.

Cleveland (9-6, 0-3) was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, continuing its lack of clutch play since an 8-0 start. Getting back on track when the teams meet again Thursday will be even more difficult for the Cavaliers because Marcial was ejected on the final play of the game, meaning the shortstop has to sit out the next game.

Birmingham started its scoring in the first when Raul Campos singled in Ryan Silver. Silver's at-bat set the tone for what would be a day of Cleveland misfortune. His check-swing grounder hit the grass in foul territory about halfway down the third-base line, and bounced back into fair territory. The throw to first was wild. Jose Carrillo scored a run in the fourth, and pinch runner Manny Avitia capped the scoring in the seventh with a delayed steal of home in which Cleveland catcher Billy Spottiswood did not hold on to the ball.