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Rio Grande Valley Wins Third Straight

July 7, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings got contributions from two new sources to register beat the San Angelo Colts, 7-4, Friday night at Harlingen Field.

First, Romulo Ruiz hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, his first at bat as a member of the WhiteWings (23-18).

Then, Clint Bowker (1-0) came out of the bullpen in relief of starter Cole Stephens and long reliever Erinzon Bautista to throw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before allowing one run in the eighth inning to earn his first professional victory.

"I think I've just been getting better every day. I couldn't throw this way early but I feel I've learned from these guys," said Bowker, who was primarily an outfielder at Oklahoma Christian.

"I've been learning pitch development from Cole Stephens. Consistency- I have to give Al (Reyes) all the credit."

Bowker used a cut fastball to baffle San Angelo (21-20) hitters, who had collected eight hits by his third inning entrance.

But he was able to pick up the victory in large part because of Ruiz, whose home run off Jose Sanchez (1-2) allowed Bowker to enter into a 3-3 tie.

From there, Bryan Marquez doubled in Mario Mercedes in the bottom of the fourth to give the WhiteWings a 4-3 advantage, and Fidel Hernandez hit his second homer of the year, a 2-run shot to left, in the fifth to round out the scoring off Sanchez, who was relieved after 4 2/3 innings.

Jarmar Walton had four hits for the Colts, including a leadoff triple off Bowker in the eighth. He would score on Daryl Jones' single a batter later.

But Jones suffered his first caught stealing of the season in 15 tries later in the inning when he was thrown out by Mario Mercedes trying to steal third, hampering a Colts rally. Marquez then accounted for the game's final run when he bunted home Mercedes on a squeeze play in the bottom of the eighth.

Nick Lenzendorf threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save.

The victory allowed the WhiteWings to win the first three games of their five game series with San Angelo. The two teams meet tonight, with WhiteWings ace Celson Polanco (5-2) facing veteran Brian Henschel (3-4).

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