Cone's big night propels Colts to victory
Published on July 9, 2008 under United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
SAN ANGELO, Texas - It took three innings for Aaron Cone to have the game of his career. With the bases loaded and two outs in the third, the rookie third baseman was up for the second time in the inning, having already gone deep in the frame and once in the first inning.
The third time for Cone was an extra special charm, a grand slam to deep right center, his third in as many at bats and second of the inning, giving the Colts a 12-3 lead, as San Angelo held off Laredo to win 13-9 in the series opener at Foster Field. Overall, Cone was 4-for-5 with the three dingers and seven RBIs.
The Colts (29-21), playing for the first time since July 3 because of five straight rainouts in Edinburg and Harlingen, got to All-Star Gregorio Martinez in the first. With one out and one on, Jose Torres homered down the left field line to get the scoring started, an out before Cone went deep. Martinez only lasted one inning before leaving with an apparent injury.
Laredo (28-27) tied the game off the Colts' All-Star starter, Luke Massetti, in the top of the third, taking advantage of an error by John Anderson to score two unearned runs.
But Andres Rodriguez led off the bottom of the frame with a home run off Nathan Crawford (0-2), before Cone followed with his second bomb of the game. San Angelo got three more runs on a sacrifice fly from Charley Belew and RBI hits by Tyrone Pendergrass and Torres before a walk to Rodriguez set up Cone's grand slam. Crawford was chased then, giving up nine runs in 1.2 innings.
The Broncos drew closer with five runs in the fourth, chasing Massetti on a three-run home run by Dwayne White. But Billy McKinney (1-4) was solid in relief, allowing just one run in three and one-third innings before Alex Merricks and Mitch Lively threw scoreless innings to finish it off.
Notes: Diggs now has a streak of 21 straight games reaching base at least once...the back-to-back by Rodriguez and Cone was the second time the Colts have done so this year. Rodriguez and Benny Craig went back to back against Laredo on May 22...In that May 22 game Rodriguez also had the only other multi-home run game for the Colts this year until Cone tonight...Right fielder Bryan Frichter missed the cycle by a home run, as he had a single, double, and triple. His bid for a homer was caught on the track in the fourth.
The Colts continue this three-game series with the Broncos at 7:05 p.m. CT on Thursday July 10. Fans coming to Foster Field can enjoy Thirsty Thursday sponsored by Miller Lite and Foster Communications. 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 July 9, 2008
- Cone's big night propels Colts to victory - San Angelo Colts
- Aces nearly shut out in loss - Alexandria Aces
- Four-Run Innings Get Balbuena First Managerial Win - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Coyotes Shutout First Place Dillas - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Colts outlast Broncos - San Angelo Colts
- Coyotes Land Two Outfielders - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Aces sweep Coyotes - Alexandria Aces
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