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Demperio and Perez Lead Thunder Past WhiteWings, 7-1

June 24, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Mike Demperio hit a ninth inning grand slam and starting pitcher Alexi Perez threw a complete game four hitter to win his first game of the season as the McAllen Thunder defeated Rio Grande Valley 7-1 at Harlingen Field Sunday night.

McAllen centerfielder Michael Lewis' two out single with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth off reliever Julio Santana gave the Thunder (10-21) a 3-1 lead and Demperio's first home run of the season capped the rally set up by two WhiteWings errors that allowed the inning to continue.

"I knew he was going to come fastball and I was trying to go to right field. But I got under it and maxed it to left," Demperio said.

In all, Demperio, who had only driven in two runs this season prior to the game, drove in five in this game, including a two out single in the top of the eighth inning that drove in Nick Tomaszewski to tie the game 1-1 off Coleman Stephens.

"He threw me three straight curves and was coming in all night," Demperio said. "I was trying to protect the strike zone."

Meanwhile Perez, making only his second start, stated after the game he felt more relaxed in this outing than he did in his first, in which he failed to make it out of the fifth inning in an 8-5 McAllen loss to Edinburg on Tuesday night. Perez fanned three and walked as many, though two of the walks came with two out in the ninth.

The 6-run rally ruined a great outing by Stephens, the Rio Grande Valley starting pitcher who allowed just five hits and one earned run in 8 1/3 innings.

But Stephens reached his pitch limit and was relieved by Julio Santana (0-1), who was victimized by his defense and allowed six unearned runs.

Rio Grande Valley (18-12) will host McAllen in the final game of their four game series at 10:05 a.m. this morning, with Celson Polanco, who leads the United League with a 1.29 earned run average, against Corpus Christi native Toro Trevino, who makes his first start of the season.

The WhiteWings, who lead their division by a half game over Edinburg, then travel to San Angelo to start a seven game road trip on Wednesday.

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