Thunder's Slim Lead Not Enough
August 20, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
McAllen Thunder News Release
EDINBURG, Texas-The McAllen Thunder had a slim one run lead but then, Luis Sumoza hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lift the Edinburg Roadrunners past the McAllen Thunder 5-4 Monday night at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
Trailing by a run in the top of the eighth, Pascual Del Real and Osiel Flores reached on two-out walks. Sumoza, who finished the night a triple shy for the cycle, delivered his first home run of the season that gave the Roadrunners (50-33) the lead for good.
The Thunder (30-53) got the scoring started with some help from the Edinburg defense. A fielding error allowed Yasser Gomez to come in and score for the 1-0 lead.
Henry Gonzalez hit an RBI double in the bottom of the third that scored Craig Hertler from third extending the McAllen lead 2-0.
The Roadrunners got on the board in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Felix Molina hit an RBI single that drove in Wilmer Pino from third making it a 2-1 game.
With runners at second and third in the top of the fifth, Pino hit an RBI ground out that allowed Tim Battle to score tying the game at two.
Former Roadrunner Cristobal Santana gave the Thunder the lead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double that made it 3-2.
Julio Castro made his first start of the season and got the no-decision after pitching six innings and allowing three runs, two earned, with four strikeouts.
Yunier Colon (2-2) took the loss after giving up the three-run blast to Sumoza in the top of the eighth.
After the Thunder cut the Roadrunners lead in the bottom of the eighth with a run off of Tetsuya Iwasaki (4-0), Paul Koss pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season giving Edinburg the 5-4 victory.
Iwasaki got the win after pitching an inning and two thirds while allowing one run on two hits.
The Roadrunners and Thunder play the final game of their four-game series Tuesday night at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Jose Oyervidez (1-0) is expected to face Brian Murphy (5-6) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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North American League Stories from August 20, 2012
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- Sumoza Lifts Roadrunners Past Thunder - Edinburg Roadrunners
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- WhiteWings Lose to Ft Worth 3-2 - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Fitting End at Foster Field - Abilene Prairie Dogs
- Thunder's Slim Lead Not Enough - McAllen Thunder
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