Fading Away
August 25, 2010 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
San Angelo, TX - The San Angelo Colts' playoff hopes took a huge hit Wednesday night as they lost the opening game of a four-game series to the Coastal Bend Thunder 8-6 at Foster Field. With the loss, the Colts remain in fifth place three games behind the Laredo Broncos for the fourth and final playoff spot in the ULB standings with six games left.
The Thunder would take the early lead in the first inning as a wild pitch by San Angelo starter Ezequiel Astacio brought in centerfielder Lamar Guy from third to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
However, the Colts would respond in the second with two runs of their own on RBI doubles from designated hitter Jason Landreth and leftfielder Alex Fernandez to take a one-run lead.
But Coastal Bend would take the lead for good with a three-run third inning thanks to a fielding error by Colts shortstop Butch Ballez, which scored third-baseman Ron Fenwick, and a two-run double by right-fielder Juan Cabrera to give the Thunder a 4-2 lead.
Landreth would cut that lead in half in the third by belting his 11thhomerun of the year, a solo shot, to make the score 4-3. Alas, Coastal Bend would respond in the fourth with two runs to extend the lead to 6-3. Leftfielder Dustin Smith led off the inning with a solo homer (2), which was followed by a double-play ball from designated hitter Mike Goss that scored centerfielder Lamar Guy from third.
The Thunder would add to their lead in the seventh on another wild pitch, this time from San Angelo reliever Caleb Rodgers, scoring shortstop Patty Mantera from third to make the score 7-3.
San Angelo would make a game of it in the bottom-of-the-seventh, as Landreth drove in his third run of the game on an RBI single to pull the Colts to within three. Two batters later, with a man on, Jason Crosland smacked his league-leading 24th homerun of the year to draw the Colts to within 7-6. The four-bagger set a new ULB record for homeruns in a single season.
Back would come Coastal Bend in the eighth as they plated an unearned run on a sac-fly from designated hitter Mike Goss to make the score 8-6. From there, the Colts offense couldn't muster anything else over the final two innings as reliever, and former Colt, Frank James picked up his first save for Coastal Bend by going three innings, and allowing one run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Coastal Bend was led offensively by Guy who went 2-3 with two singles, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Cabrera chipped in by going 2-4 with a double and two RBI.
The Colts were led by Landreth, who went 3-4 with a homer, double, single, three runs scored and three RBI. In addition, Fernandez went 2-4 with a double and RBI.
The win was recorded by Thunder starter Doug Brandt (4-7) who went six innings while allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out four and walking five. Ezequiel Astacio (6-8) suffered the loss for San Angelo as he allowed six runs on four hits while walking six in 3.2 innings of work.
Both teams will return to action for games two and three of their four-game series, with a twig-night doubleheader beginning at 6:05. In game one, Chandler Barnard (7-3, 3.29 ERA) will pitch for the Colts against lefty Jorge Lugo (0-2, 4.91 ERA) of the Thunder. Game two will feature Logan Williamson (2-2, 4.18 ERA) for San Angelo against Coastal Bend's Jacob Liedka (1-4, 9.27 ERA). Thursday will also be the final Thirsty Thursday of the season presented by Miller Lite as all draft beers will cost only $1 throughout the evening. The broadcast of the game begins with the Kemps Pregame Show at 5:50, and can be heard on 1260 KKSA.
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United League Baseball Stories from August 25, 2010
- Fading Away - San Angelo Colts
- Broncos Can't Muster Enough Offense to Top Wings - Laredo Broncos
- WhiteWings Take Over Third Place with Franchise Record Seventh-Straight Win - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Roadrunners Take Game One, Regain First Place - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Statement from United League Baseball President Byron Pierce - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
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