Thunder Survive Comeback Scare for 8-7 Win
August 25, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
Robstown, Texas - 2002 Hall of Fame Inductee Ozzie Smith threw out tonight's first pitch and the Thunder welcomed the former Cardinal great by jumping on top of Laredo 8-0. However, Coastal Bend needed every bit of that lead to secure an 8-7 victory tonight at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown. The turning point in the game came when a score update for the Amarillo and Rio Grande Valley contest was announced at Fairgrounds Field. Fortunately, the Thunder bullpen was able to secure the game for the Thunder to move to 34-39 on the season. Ricardo Morales (4-1) picked up the win for the Thunder and Benny Cepeda earned his tenth save of the season.
The Thunder scored twice in the third and six times in the fourth and looked poised to cruise to another easy victory. Every batter in the Thunder lineup had at least one hit in the game. Zazueta, Mejia, and Fernandez each drove in two runs apiece for the Coastal Bend offense.
Still, the Laredo Broncos refused to go down quietly scoring seven runs over the next three innings to climb back into the ballgame. All nine starters in the Laredo lineup had at least one hit matching the feat of the Coastal Bend lineup. Dave Cardona set the pace for the Broncos scoring twice and collecting three hits.
The Thunder scored twice in the bottom of the third to jump on top for the second consecutive night. Michael Lewis reached to lead off the inning after being struck by a Will Palmer fastball. Dustin Smith perfectly executed a sacrifice bunt and ended up at second when Palmer's throw to first ended up in right field. Zazueta drove a deep fly ball to center to advance both runners and drive in Lewis on the sacrifice. Leivi Ventura stepped up next smacked a single to center to drive in Smith.
The Coastal Bend offense went right back to work against Palmer and chased him from the game scoring six runs on seven hits. Bryan Vickers led off with a groundball that bounced off the third base bag into the left field corner for a double. Alfred Joseph singled to center and Michael Lewis singled through the right side to drive in Vickers from third. Dustin Smith laid down a perfect bunt and made it safely to first without a throw for a single. Zazueta added his second sacrifice fly of the ball game to drive in Alfred Joseph. Ventura singled through the left side to drive in Michael Lewis. With the bases loaded, Manny Mejia smashed a towering fly ball to left center that just missed leaving the ballpark as it hit high off the wall for a two RBI double. Alex Fernandez completed the scoring in the big inning for the Thunder with a two RBI single to left field to give the Thunder an 8-0 advantage.
Laredo answered the Thunder rally with one of their own breaking through against Ricardo Morales with three runs in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Cardona and Santos got things started for the Broncos. Juan Senreiso singled a batter later to drive in Cardona and get Laredo on the board. With two outs, Luis Ugueto dropped a soft liner in front of Fernandez in left to drive in both Santos and Senreiso and cut the score to 8-3.
The Broncos made it an 8-5 game in the sixth inning. Mendez, Cardona, and Santos each singled to load the bases. Mendez scored on a past ball to make it 8-4. The score became 8-5 on a Moron sacrifice fly, which drove in Cardona from third.
Laredo kept chipping away at the Thunder lead with two more runs in the top of the seventh to cut the advantage to a single run. Beckman lead off with a single and Morales followed with a walk. Mendez reached on a fielder's choice as the Thunder could not turn the double play on the slow ground ball. Beckman would be credited with steal of home despite some poor first and third defense by the Thunder. Cardona drove in the second run of the inning on an RBI single to center to make it an 8-7 ballgame.
Coastal Bend looks to claim game three of the series Wednesday at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown, Texas. The 7:05 start will be Family night at the ballpark where four tickets, four hot dogs, and four drinks are included for twenty dollars. So bring out the whole family for an affordable professional baseball experience as the regular season comes to a close.
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United League Baseball Stories from August 25, 2009
- 6-4 win sends Dillas to postseason - Amarillo Dillas
- Roadrunners Inch Closer To First With 6-5 Victory - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Colts Slide Continues - San Angelo Colts
- Thunder Survive Comeback Scare for 8-7 Win - Coastal Bend Thunder
- Base Running Miscues Cost WhiteWings - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Broncos Rally Falls Short Against Thunder - Laredo Broncos
- Playoffs are Here, Colts Tickets are Available - San Angelo Colts
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