Amarillo Fires Back to Aviod Sweep
July 21, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
July 21, 2009 - Robstown, TX - After not holding a lead in a single inning through the first three games of the series, Amarillo grabbed the lead in the top of the first and never looked back en route to a 9-0 win tonight at Fairgrounds Field. The Dillas bats awoke tonight against newly acquired Ricardo Morales. The Thunder lefty showed some signs of rust as he struggled with his control missing over the heart of the plate several times and walking three Dillas. However, Morales definitely showed that he has a live arm and the potential to be a solid starter in this league. The loss drops the Thunder into a tie for second with Amarillo at a record of 21-19 in United League Baseball.
Ralph Roberts of Amarillo simply outmatched the Thunder offense. Roberts improved to 4-1 on the season with a very impressive performance. Over his nine innings of work, Roberts struck out five and allowed only four hits to earn the complete game shutout. Three of those four hits came from Thunder leftfielder Michael Lewis, who was 3-3 with three singles.
Benefiting from two walks in the inning in the top of first, Terrance McClain singled to right center to drive in Andrew Wong from second to give the Dillas an early 1-0 lead.
The Dillas struck again in the top of the third inning and stretched their lead to four runs. With two outs, Terrance McClain singled between third and short. Trent Lockwood followed with a double down the right field line that was just out of reach of Bryan Vickers at first. Stantrel Smith stepped up next and sent a groundball up the middle that deflected off the pitcher's glove and forced Thunder shortstop Amadeo Zazueta to change directions and make an off balance throw towards first. Zazueta's throw ended up in the visitor's dugout and two runs scored on the play making it a 3-0 ballgame. Smith ended up at third on the error and would later steal third. Eric Brown singled driving in Smith from third to give the Dillas a 4-0 lead.
Terrance McClain's three run homer in the top of the fourth stretched the lead to seven. The rally started again with two outs after Morales retired the first two batters of the inning fairly easily.
Miliade Venas pitched very well in relief for the Thunder lighting up the radar gun consistently at 93 miles per hour. Over his two innings of relief, the Coastal Bend right-hander did not allow a hit and struck out three.
Raul Trevino also pitched well in relief throwing two scoreless innings to try and keep the game within reach. Unfortunately, the Thunder hitters could not find a way on base as anything they managed to hit hard found its way into a Dillas glove.
The Dillas tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth off reliever James Kuzniak to make the final score 9-0.
After a league wide off day tomorrow, the Thunder will travel to San Angelo the first of three road series. The Thunder will be back in the Coastal Bend at Fairgrounds Field on August 4 to take on the Rio Grande Valley White Wings.
United League Baseball Stories from July 21, 2009
- Roadrunners Top Broncos - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Broncos Lose Pitcher's Duel to Roadrunners - Laredo Broncos
- Amarillo Fires Back to Aviod Sweep - Coastal Bend Thunder
- Colts Dramatic Comeback Falls Short - San Angelo Colts
- WhiteWings Win Battle of Ex-Big League Pitchers - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- First Inning Leads Broncos Over Roadrunners - Edinburg Roadrunners
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