Offense Explodes for 17 Hits En Route to 9-1 Win
August 5, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
August 5, 2009 - Robstown, TX - The Coastal Bend offense made sure there was no possibility of a comeback in tonight's game as they scored five runs in the first four innings. Thunder starter Ricardo Morales was up to the task as well surrendering seven hits and four runs during his complete game performance. The Thunder lefty was working on a one run game before allowing three runs to score in the ninth. Morales struck out four on his way to his second win of the season. The 9-4 victory improves the Thunder record to 25-29 and into sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in United League Baseball.
The offense collected 17 hits off of the WhiteWings pitching combination of Juan Peralta and Mark Ramos. Four Thunder starters had at least three hits in tonight's contest: Michael Lewis, Manny Mejia, Amadeo Zazueta, and Bryan Vickers. Eight of the nine Thunder batters pitched in with at least one hit as everyone contributed in one way or another to the victory.
The Thunder broke through in the bottom of the second to take an early one run advantage. Carlos Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning and it looked as if he would be stranded at first. However, Casey Allen's diving attempt to rob newly acquired Thunder first baseman Mike Garcia of a hit was unsuccessful as the ball trickled safely to the turf. Michael Lewis dropped a bloop single in front of the WhiteWings' right fielder to drive in Rodriguez from third.
Coastal Bend added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Thunder loaded the bases with one out with walks to Leivi Ventura and Carlos Rodriguez sandwiched around a Manny Mejia single. One run came home on Amadeo Zazueta's RBI single to center, but Mejia was thrown out at the plate trying to score. Bryan Vickers stepped up next and doubled off the wall just below the scoreboard to drive in Rodriguez and Zazueta and give the Thunder a four run lead.
The WhiteWings got on the board in the top of the fourth on Brian Nichols seventh homerun of the season making it a 4-1 ballgame.
Manny Mejia's RBI single in the home half of the fourth inning driving in Michael Lewis from second answered the Nichols homerun and extended the Thunder lead back to four.
The Coastal Bend Thunder scored three runs off reliever Mark Ramos in the bottom of the seventh to make it an 8-1 ballgame. Four consecutive hits with one out scored the first two runs with Zazueta and Vickers picking up RBIs. Michael Lewis added his third single of the game to drive in Zazueta from third.
Carlos Rodriguez's sharp RBI single to left drove in Mejia and added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to make it a nine to one game
Coastal Bend hosts game three of this four game series versus Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, August 6 at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown. Thirsty Thursday features two-dollar bottles of beer all night long.
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