Colts hold off Aces' comeback, win 10-7
Published on August 10, 2008 under United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
ALEXANDRA, La. - The San Angelo Colts nearly blew a lead for the second straight night in Alexandria, as the Aces scored seven runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to come within a run of the Colts (49-29). However, the Colts, propelled by a seven-run second inning and boosted by two runs in the ninth, held on to defeat Alexandria 10-7, evening this three-game series at a game apiece.
The Colts broke the game open early with seven runs in the second off Aces starter Ramon Portillo (8-4), who took his first loss in five appearances against the Colts this year. With one out and a runner at first, Aces shortstop Rafael Ozuna made a critical error when he booted a tailor-made double play groundball. The next batter, Charley Belew, singled to right, loading up the bases for Tyrone Pendergrass, who brought home the first two runs of the game with a single to left field. John Anderson then hit a base hit to left field to make it 3-0, and Jose Torres walked to reload the bases. The Colts' hottest hitter, Andres Rodriguez, then cleared the bases with one swing, crushing a grand slam to left, his league-leading 20th home run and second grand slam of the season, putting San Angelo ahead 7-0.
Colts starter Logan Williamson (11-4), who is still tied for the league lead in victories as Amarillo's Micah Posey also picked up his 11th win Saturday, cruised for the most part through the first five innings, not allowing a hit until Brian Nichols reached on an infield single to begin the fourth. Nichols was then thrown out trying to steal second on the next pitch and Williamson didn't give up his next hit until one out in the sixth, thanks to two great plays on the first two batters of the fifth by the shortstop Belew.
After San Angelo tacked on a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Pendergrass, the Aces finally got to Williamson in the sixth and actually knocked out the left-hander in the frame. Ozuna atoned for his earlier error by hitting a two-run homer and Jose Umbria hit an RBI double later in the inning to make it 8-3. Williamson faced two more batters after that, striking out one and walking the other, coming out of the game after that, which was his seventh walk.
The Aces put up another three-spot in the seventh off Robert Romero, who got the final out of the sixth and pitched the entire seventh. Andre Marshall brought home a run with a bases loaded fielder's choice and Umbria plated two more runs with another double, making the score 8-6. Colts closer Luke Massetti began the eighth inning in search of a two-inning save and allowed an RBI single by Selwyn Langaigne in the eighth to bring the Aces within a run at 8-7.
San Angelo gave Massetti a bigger cushion by scoring two runs in the top of the ninth off Aces closer Juan Ovalles. Bryan Frichter hit an RBI double, his league-leading 32nd of the year, and Pendergrass drove in his fourth run of the night with another single to make it 10-7. Alexandria still brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth twice, but Massetti earned his third save when he struck out pinch-hitter Madison Edwards and got another pinch-hitter, Larry Bethea, to pop out to end the game
Notes: With the win, the Colts can earn a split of the season series if they win again on Sunday. A win would also give the Colts a 5-4 record at Bringhurst Field this season...Tyrone Pendergrass had four more hits and is 12-for-his-last-15 with 12 singles...Portillo had, statistically, his worst start of the season. The eight runs and seven earned runs he allowed were both season highs, the 11 hits were one short of tying a season high, and his five innings of work tied his shortest start of the year.
The Colts conclude this three-game set in Alexandria with the series finale at 5:05 p.m. CT on Sunday. San Angelo returns for the final home series of the regular season on Friday, August 15, with a Back-to-School Kit Giveaway, sponsored by 211 Texas at the 7:05 p.m. game against Edinburg. Advertising, ticket, and group information are available by calling the box office at (325) 942-6587. All Colts games are broadcast live on "Cool 100" - KCLL 100.1 FM and online at the Colts' official website, www.sanangelocolts.com, which is updated daily with the latest team news.
United League Baseball Stories from August 10, 2008
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- Colts win 50th game of season in rain-shortened game - San Angelo Colts
- Rain Cuts Game Versus Colts Short - Alexandria Aces
- Colts hold off Aces' comeback, win 10-7 - San Angelo Colts
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