McAllen Beats White Wings

August 16, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Craig Hertler collected three hits, including a proverbial "bunt home run," while Brian Murphy threw 6 2/3 strong innings to lead the McAllen Thunder to a 6-5 victory against the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Thursday night at Harlingen Field.

Hertler's 2-run single to left highlighted a four run top of the second inning off Erinzon Bautista (2-1), while his third and final hit led directly to the eventual winning run in the top of the eighth.

With righthander Alberto Reyes pitching the lefthanded hitting Hertler laid down a bunt to the left side of the infield that third baseman Welinson Baez fielded. But Baez's throw to first was wild, which allowed Hertler to reach third base.

But when Hertler arrived at third, third base coach Mike Goss realized nobody was covering home plate and waved his shortstop home to give McAllen (29-50) a 6-4 lead.

Meanwhile, though Brian Murphy (5-6) was touched for three runs in the third inning by Rio Grande Valley (45-33), he scattered eight hits, struck out six, and walked no one while allowing four runs, three of which were earned runs to gain the victory.

The WhiteWings threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning by loading the bases with just one out, but Ruddy Yan, who has collected nine hits in the three games of the series, could only manage a ground ball to shortstop off Yunier Colon that plated Robert Moron. With runners at the corners and two out, Roberto Rodriguez popped to Hertler for the final out.

Chad Robinson set down the third, fourth, and fifth place hitters in Rio Grande Valley's lineup in order to earn his 13th save of the season.

Meanwhile, former staff ace Reymond Cruz set down all six batters he faced in his first game for the WhiteWings since 2009.

The WhiteWings will try to win the series against McAllen again tonight at 7:05 p.m. behind Luis Noel (7-2) in the final game of their homestand. Fans will be given hard hats from Southern Star to commemorate "Blue Collar Night."

CORRECTION- The WhiteWings' all-time single season record for victories in a season is held by Yfrain Linares, who won 14 games in 2000. It had previously been reported the club record was 11.



North American League Stories from August 16, 2012


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