Harlingen rallies to stay unbeaten
Published on January 20, 2007 under United League Baseball (ULB) News Release
HARLINGEN, Texas-Ryan Kottke's two-run double in the fifth inning tied the score, then the Harlingen WhiteWings busted the game open with five additional runs in the frame en route to an 8-4 victory over the Edinburg Coyotes in Saturday's second game in the Texas Winter League.
Trailing 3-1 entering the fifth, Kottke jumped on a fastball from Eduardo Garcia (0-1) and drove it to the wall in center, scoring two runs. Candelario Perez followed with the go-ahead, run-scoring single to give Harlingen the lead.
The inning stayed alive on a dropped third strike wild pitch that scored Perez. Bub Bergstrom added an RBI single, and later Julian Williams scored two more on an infield single as Bergstrom never slowed down and wisely kept running to score all the way from second base.
Perez, who was scouted last Saturday from Matamoros and invited to play in the league, was 3-for-4 at the plate and displayed his strong throwing arm with an off-balance from shortstop to retire Garcia in the first inning. Bergstrom was 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Jesse Garza (1-0) allowed an unearned run in the fifth inning and recorded the victory. Harlingen starter Ricardo Alvarez went the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Andres Gutierrez pitched the final two innings.
Bric Steed, one of the better starters for Edinburg in the summer league, started the game and pitched three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked two and hit two.
Edinburg crowd favorite Eric Gonzalez was hit by a pitch in the first inning, double in the third inning (his second double in as many games), then walked and manufactured a run in the fifth. He stole second, then stole third and scored when catcher Ryan Kottke's throw went into left field.
The league is off today. Monday's schedule: Harlingen vs. Laredo at 11 a.m., and Brownsville vs. Edinburg at 3:30 p.m.
United League Baseball Stories from January 20, 2007
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