First Day of Texas Winter League Action in the Books

Published on February 5, 2013 under North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


The Texas Winter League began play with a 3-1 Edinburg Roadrunners victory against the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at Harlingen Field.

The Roadrunners (1-0) were able to capitalize on two outstanding pitching efforts for the victory. First, starting pitcher Selby Brumett, who earned the start because of his past experience at the University of New Mexico, retired the first nine men he faced before Jacob Douglas collected a one out single to drive in Cody Bishop in the top of the fourth to tie the game 1-1.

But Harlingen native Danny Gidora matched him frame for frame through four innings for the WhiteWings (0-1), allowing only a single run in the bottom of the first inning when Mike Mobbs' two-out single to right drove in Phil Rowland.

Gidora gave way to another local product, Brownsville's William Martinez. But Martinez was wild, walking Rowland and Mobbs before fifth-place hitter Doug Freeman hit a two out grounder to Rolando Zamparipa at third base.

But Zamparipa could not handle the hot smash and it went under his glove for an error, plating Rowland with the game's second run.

Martinez (0-1) then allowed an earned run in the bottom of the sixth when Donald Whitt, who had come on in the third as a pinch hitter for injured shortstop Tsuyoshik Takashima, collected a one out single up the middle to drive in Jimmy Williams.

But the best outing of the game came from Brownsville's Henry Garcia. The 5-10 lefthander showed why he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks the previous day by throwing three scoreless innings where he allowed only a bloop single to Curtis Camilli and struck out seven batters.

The WhiteWings will play the McAllen Thunder tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the first game at Harlingen Field, while the Roadrunners will take on the Brownsville Stars at 2 p.m.

GAME TWO

Albert Carpen's grand slam highlighted a 9-run bottom of the sixth inning to give the McAllen Thunder a 10-5 victory against the Brownsville All-Stars in the afternoon game at Harlingen Field.

The All-Stars (0-1) appeared to be in control early on after capitalizing on the wildness of 44-year-old righthander Misop Baynum for four runs in the first two innings and were leading 5-1 when Keisuke Saito came in to pitch in relief in the bottom of the sixth.

But the one time Yomuri Giants prospect could not retire any of the nine Thunder (1-0) batters he faced and all of them scored. Carpen's 380-foot homer over the 20-foot fence in right field tied the game 5-5, and then, following hits from Masaki Iwagami and Masanari Koto, Saito (0-1) threw two wild pitches to allow them to score.

Eric Sheridan (1-0) threw two shutout innings while fanning four to earn the victory in relief for the Thunder, while Iwagami collected three hits in as many at bats.

The Thunder will play the WhiteWings at Harlingen Field tomorrow at 11 p.m., while the All-Stars take on the Roadrunners at 2 p.m.

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North American League Stories from February 5, 2013


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