Paniagua Takes League Lead in Home Runs in Win

Published on June 10, 2010 under United League Baseball (ULB)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


Harlingen - Salvador Paniagua hit his league-leading fifth home run of the season as the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings beat the Coastal Bend Thunder 10-9 on Thursday at Harlingen Field.

The WhiteWings (9-6) are now winners of four in a row.

Paniagua hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to make it 9-4 and knock out Thunder (6-9) starter Carlos Rangel (3-1).

The Thunder jumped on Greg Conrad in the third. Leivi Ventura singled, Brian Nichols walked, Manny Mejia hit an RBI-double, Alex Fernandez hit a sacrifice fly and Lester Contreras hit an RBI-double to make it 3-0.

Rangel allowed just a ten-pitch walk to Joel Roa in the first two innings, but the WhiteWings sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the third to take a 6-3 lead. Roberto Rodriguez led off the inning with an infield single and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Jose Fulgencio. Javis Diaz followed with a sacrifice fly. Kevin Griffin, Paniagua and Roa followed with singles to drive in two more runs. After Arlon Quiroz walked, Eric Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly, Domenic Di Ricco picked up his first career single and RBI, and Rodriguez reached on an error to send the next three runs home.

The Thunder got one back right away when Dustin Smith led off the top of the fourth with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Mike Goss that knocked out Conrad.

The WhiteWings added a run in the bottom off the fifth when Quiroz reached on an error and later scored on a single by Di Ricco to make it 7-4.

After Paniagua's home run, Doug Brant came in and Quiroz hit his first home run of the season to make it 10-4.

Freddy Ballestas (4-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief before running into trouble in the top of the seventh, when he allowed three runs on four hits and one error.

Michael Barbosa pitched one and one-third innings for the hold.

Anderson Garcia gave up two runs in the ninth and the Thunder had first and second with one out before Mejia grounded into a double play to give Garcia his second save.

The WhiteWings and Thunder play game six of this eight-game series on Fan Fly Away Friday, presented by Allegiant Air, Univision, Que Pasa and Jose 101 at 7:05 p.m., when one lucky fan will win two free round trip tickets on Allegiant Air. Gates open at 6:05. Right-hander David Cross (1-2) is expected to face right-hander Jared Sutton (0-1).

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United League Baseball Stories from June 10, 2010


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