RGV Beats McAllen 6-2

August 4, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Though not with their soon-to-be-drawing card, the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings may have established another player as a fan favorite in their 6-2 victory against McAllen Saturday night at Harlingen Field.

Celson Polanco (8-4) pitched eight strong innings, allowing nine hits and two earned runs while striking out seven and walking three to tie Edinburg's Miguel Martinez for the North American Baseball League lead in victories. He now stands three shy of the WhiteWings' record for pitching victories in a season, a record shared by Ryan Whitaker in 1997 and Joe Rodgers in 2007.

"I was a little off and stayed close," said Polanco, referring to a third inning in which he walked three hitters before regaining his composure and striking out Antoin Gray to end the inning without allowing a run. "I just threw the ball the way I have been. Throw down, one pitch at a time. It's worked all season."

The game was scoreless until the fifth when Lyndon Poole singled through a drawn in infield to give McAllen (25-43) a 1-0 lead in the fifth to plate former WhiteWing Roberto Rodriguez, who tripled to lead off the inning.

But in the bottom of the sixth Rio Grande Valley (38-29) scored three times off Frank James (5-6). Leugim Barroso tripled to lead off the frame and scored on Leivi Ventura's line drive single.

From there, Ventura reached second on a pass ball and scored on Wlinson Baez's single. Baez would later score when he stole home on the back end of a double steal.

This is Baez's third game back with the WhiteWings after signing on Thursday. He had been working as a cable television installer in Boston before returning to the team he played for in 2009 and 2010.

McAllen scored a run when Geo Rosa drove in Antoin Gray in the top of the eighth with two out with a single to center, but Polanco bore down with two runners on base to get Miguel Alfonzo to pop out and end the threat.

The WhiteWings then rallied for three runs off James and reliever Chad Robinson. Mario Mercedes' 2-run single to right field with the bases loaded highlighted the inning in which Rio Grande Valley sent nine men to the plate.

The WhiteWings were to have Jose Canseco join them today, but a family emergency kept him from appearing. He is scheduled to play his first game for the WhiteWings on Monday at Edinburg against McAllen.

The victory allows Rio Grande Valley to sweep the two game series in Harlingen. The two teams begin a series of four games at Edinburg Baseball Stadium tonight at 6:05 p.m., with Erinzon Bautista (1-0) pitching against Thunder ace Brian Murphy (4-4).



North American League Stories from August 4, 2012


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