Mejia's blast and strong pitching extends win streak to 3
June 22, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
June 21, 2009 -- Robstown, TX -- The Thunder moved to 6-5 and has put together a 3 game winning streak after a 7-1 win over the Laredo Broncos this evening at Fairgrounds Field. Coastal Bend jumped out to an early lead on a 2 out 2 RBI double off the bat of Amadeo Zazueta. The Thunder shortstop has amassed an impressive 10 hits in his last 3 games. Starting pitcher Francisco Castillo was very impressive on the mound. He managed to scatter 5 hits while striking out 4. He tossed 5 innings of 1 run ball and shut down a very potent Bronco lineup.
Coastal Bend scored multiple runs in the home half of the first for the third consecutive night. Dustin Smith led off the game with a single and Michael Lewis reached on an error. Two outs later, Zazueta stepped up and ripped a double to left-center giving the Thunder a 2-0 lead.
The Thunder offense went back to work in the bottom of the second. With 2 outs, Bronco starter Ryan Harris hit Dustin Smith with a pitch. On the very next pitch, Michael Lewis laced a single in the hole between third and short. Leivi Ventura followed with an infield single to load the bases for Manny Mejia. Mejia stepped up and unloaded on the 2-0 offering from Harris. The ball ended well beyond the left field fence for Mejia's second grand slam of the homestand giving the Thunder a 6-0 lead.
Laredo struck back with a run in the top of the third, but that is all the Bronco offense could muster against the Thunder pitching staff this evening. After loading the bases with one out, Castillo did a great job allowing only the one run. The Broncos scored on a bloop single that fell between Casey Gordon and Mike Goss in shallow right field. On the play, the Laredo runners had to hold to see if the ball would fall allowing for enough time for Goss to throw out OJ Garza at second. Castillo got Argelis Nunez to ground out to short to end the threat.
Bronco starter Ryan Harris settled in very nicely after surrendering 6 runs to the Thunder in the first 2 innings. He held the Thunder scoreless over the next 5 innings giving the Bronco's offense an opportunity to get them back in the game. However, the Thunder pitching staff had other ideas. David Parker came in to pitch in the 6th and picked up right where Castillo left off. He blew away the first 3 batters he faced striking out the side in the 6th. Parker left after 2 strong innings where he struck out 5 and walked 2 without giving up a hit.
Miliade Venas took the ball in the 8th for the Thunder. Just as Parker did in the 6th, Venas struck out the side in the 8th.
The Thunder capped off the scoring on a sacrifice fly by Casey Gordon in the bottom of the 8th scoring Amadeo Zazueta from third.
Venas came back out for the ninth and sent the Broncos down in order to preserve the Thunder victory. The Thunder reliever struck out 4 and did not allow a single hit. Combined the Thunder bullpen of Parker and Venas in 5 innings, allowed no runs, no hits, struck out 8 and walked 3. Francisco Castillo picked up the win, which puts the Coastal Bend record to up to 6-5 and marks the first time the new franchise is above the .500 mark. The Thunder look to sweep Laredo tomorrow evening here at Fairgrounds Field and is a scheduled 7:05 contest.
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