Aces win over Rio Grande Valley
May 31, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Alexandria Aces News Release
ALEXANDRIA- Ryan Zimmerman is rapidly becoming the ace of the Aces.
Zimmerman, a 25-year-old righthander, pitched his second consecutive 7-inning gem to give the Alexandria Aces a 5-1 victory against the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Thursday night at Bringhurst Field.
The 30th round draft choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 allowed one run and three hits to give the Aces (3-4) their second straight triumph.
"I would say that," Aces manager Von Hayes said when asked if Zimmerman was his staff "ace." "He's only allowed one run in two outings. He's a bulldog.
"When you look at how he tries to get ahead of hitters he doesn't just pound the fastball. He mixed in breaking pitches."
Zimmerman (1-0) struck out seven and walked five in winning his first professional game. He shutout the WhiteWings for his first 5 1/3 innings of work until Thomas Shull doubled in Albert Carpen in the sixth inning for Rio Grande Valley's only run of the day.
Though Zimmerman has a fastball that has been clocked above 90 miles per hour, both he and Hayes spoke of his mental approach to the game as the key to his success.
"In junior college I had a coach [Stan Friend] who stresssed approaching the game the right way. I compete against the ball and keep opponents nameless and faceless. I attibute a lot of my success to what I learned there."
It is an approach that was also tought to Zack Cadet, the Aces centerfielder who also played with Zimmerman at Chabot Junior College in Hayward, California.
"Cadet is on fire," said Hayes, referring to the five hits his leadoff hitter has had in the last two games. "He's making a big difference on this team."
Cadet followed up his 5 RBI performance in Alexandria's 18-10 victory against Rio Grande Valley (2-5) on Wednesday by collecting two hits and scoring twice in Thursday's game.
The first run, following Cadet's leadoff single off righthander Roy Hansen (0-2), came in on a one out double off the wall in left field by Nick Mahin, Alexandria's cleanup hitter who is 7 for 18 on the young season.
The Aces added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth when designated hitter Ryan Gasporra tripled in Austin Newell and Mahin by pulling a hard smash down the right field line that rolled to the outfield wall. Gasporra later scored on a wild pitch.
Cadet scored the game's final run after hitting a two-out double deep to centerfield in the eighth off reliever Mike Wolford. After Eddie Murray walked and Austin Newell singled, Mahin then drove in his second run of the game when Wolford walked him with the bases loaded.
"I'm seeing the ball well and attacking all the pitches I can drive," said Cadet, the Aces' 5-8 leadoff hitter. "I'm getting a lot of good counts and high pitches."
Alexandria's Nate Stewart pitched a perfect eighth inning and Gabe Grammer followed with a scoreless ninth to end the game.
Still, it was Zimmerman's performance that left fans wondering why he didn't stick with the Diamondbacks organization, let alone pitch a game in the affiliated minors.
"I didn't pass my physical," Zimmerman explained. "I had a labrum tear in my right shoulder that was previously undetcted. I threw my whole college career [at Cabot and Northwestern State] with it and didn't know."
Now healed, Zimmerman came to the Aces from the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association, whom he spent spring training with.
Former Aces manager Stan Cliburn now pilots the X's and thought Zimmerman would be better served starting his career with his old club.
"Cliburn gave me a chance to succeed," Zimmerman said. "I'm grateful he gave me a spot to play."
So are the Aces.
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United League Baseball Stories from May 31, 2013
- Aces Fall to RGV, 6-3 - Alexandria Aces
- Colts Crush Roadrunners - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Colts Crush Roadrunners in Finale - San Angelo Colts
- Thunder Stop Tying Run at Plate, Cats Split Series - Fort Worth Cats
- Shull Leads The Way As Wings Split Series - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Aces Sign RHP Brandon Creath - Alexandria Aces
- Aces win over Rio Grande Valley - Alexandria Aces
- Cats Rebound to Split Doubleheader - Fort Worth Cats
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