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Cruz does it again as WhiteWings walk-off winners

August 10, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


Harlingen - Alberto Cruz hit his second walk-off home run of the season as the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings became the first team to win a series against the first-place San Angelo Colts this season with an 8-7 win tonight at Harlingen Field.

Down 7-6 with one out in the ninth, Welinson Baez walked against Chace Vacek (2-2). With two outs, Cruz pinch-hit and hit his ninth home run of the season to give the WhiteWings (28-31) their second walk-off win- in-a-row.

The WhiteWings are now winners of four-in-a-row while the Colts are losers of three-in-a-row.

Reliever Juan Jimenez (1-2) failed to have a scoreless outing for the 13th-straight appearance, dating back to last season, as the Colts (38-21) rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to take a 7-5 lead.

Jimenez has now allowed at least one run in 20 of his last 21 appearances.

Staked to a 5-4 lead, Jimenez worked around a one-out walk to pitch a scoreless seventh in relief of Juan Peralta. In the eighth, however, Jimenez issued a leadoff walk to Jason Landreth and then allowed a double to Aaron Cone. One out later, Jimenez intentionally walked Nick Mahin to set-up the possibility of a double play. After Butch Ballez struck out, however, Hank Lanto hit a three-run double.

The WhiteWings got within one in the bottom of the eighth against 11- year Major League Baseball-veteran Tom Martin. With two outs, Mark Ramos picked up his first professional hit and Joaquin Rodriguez followed with a single. Rico Santana hit an RBI-double to make it 7-6.

The Colts got on the board against Peralta right away. Ronnie Gaines was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and Hunter Jobes followed with a single. After a groundout advanced the runners, Landreth drew a seven-pitch walk to load the bases and Cone hit an RBI-single to make it 1-0.

The WhiteWings responded immediately against Kenny Elkind. Agustin Septimo led off the bottom of the first with an infield-single and Rodriguez followed with a single. One out later, Brian Nichols hit a two-run double. Juan Melo drew a four-pitch walk. One out later, Juan Cabrera hit an RBI-single to make it 3-1.

Casey Allen led off the bottom of the second with a double, moved to third on a bunt single by Septimo and scored on a sacrifice-fly by Rodriguez to make it 4-1.

In the top of the third, Jobes hit a leadoff double and Joe Rhomberg followed with an RBI-double to make it 4-2.

The Colts tied it in the fourth. Josh Collazo led off with a walk and Mahin reached on an error, moving Collazo to third. Butch Ballez followed with an RBI-groundout. Lanto then hit a fly-ball to centerfield that hit off of Allen's glove, allowing Mahin to score to make it 4-4.

That was it against Peralta, who retired the final eight batters he faced.

The WhiteWings took the lead back in the fifth. With one out, Baez doubled and moved to third on an infield-single by Cabrera. Sandy DeLeon followed with an RBI-single to make it 5-4 and knock out Elkind.

The WhiteWings go for the four-game sweep of the Colts tomorrow night at 7:05. Left-hander Carlos Artiles (2-2) is expected to face right- hander Ezequiel Astacio (6-1).



United League Baseball Stories from August 10, 2009


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