Trujillo Shines in Thunder Debut
July 8, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
July 8, 2009 -- Robstown, TX -- J.J. Trujillo's Coastal Bend debut went very well for both J.J and the Thunder offense in a 7-4 victory tonight at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown. Trullio, a W.B. Ray High School graduate and former San Diego Padre, allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in tonight's contest in 7 innings of work, while striking out 3 and walking only 1. The Coastal Bend starter pitched 5 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball before surrendering 2 runs in the top of the 6th and 1 more in the top of the 7th. Nevertheless, Trujillo gave the Thunder a quality start and picked up the win after departing with a 6-3 lead. Raul Trevino allowed one run in the 8th and Benny Cepeda picked up his 4th save of the season after pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
The Thunder offense was up to the challenge against Edinburg starter Eric Montoya. Coastal Bend smacked 13 hits in the game, 11 of which came off Montoya. The offense put up 6 runs on Montoya and 7 total in the game. Four Thunder hitters, Ventura, Mejia, Joseph, and Chris Lewis, each had at least 2 hits apiece, and eight of nine Thunder starters had at least one hit.
Coastal Bend jumped out on top in the bottom of the 2nd. A leadoff single from newly acquired former Corpus Christi Hook, Carlos Rodriguez, started the big inning. After Vickers grounded into a fielders choice, consecutive singles by Alfred Joseph and Chris Lewis led to the first run of the game, as Vickers scored and Joseph advanced to third. Joseph came home on an error by Edinburg 3rd baseman Eric Gonzalez making the score 2-0. A bit of bad luck hurt the Thunder in the inning after Mike Goss singled to load the bases. Amadeo Zazueta's sharply hit line drive ended up in the glove of Edinburg first baseman Bryon Smith who doubled up Goss at first to end the threat. Had the ball gotten past Smith it surely would have been a double and three runs would have scored with the excellent speed of Smith and Goss on second and first respectively.
The Thunder went right back after Eric Montoya in the bottom of the 3rd. With one out, Manny Mejia singled in the hole between short and third, and with 2 outs, Bryan Vickers smacked a double over the leftfielders head to put runners at 2nd and 3rd for Alfred Joseph. Joseph singled on a line drive to right sending both Mejia and Vickers in to score and extending the lead to 4.
Mike Goss added a 5th run for the Thunder in the next half inning. After walking, Goss stole second and moved to third on a groundout to second by Zazueta. The next batter, Leivi Ventura, singled on a line drive up the middle to drive in Goss. Manny Mejia doubled to right, which sent Ventura to third. Ventura then scored on a wild pitch giving the Thunder a 6 run lead.
Edinburg got on the board with 2 runs in the top of the 6th. After a double Amado German scored on a wild pitch. A solo home run by Eric Gonzalez provided the second tally of the inning and made it a 6-2 game.
The RoadRunners added another tally in the top of the 7th with 3 singles in the inning. Bryon Smith singled to start the inning and would score later on a single by Amado German to close the gap to 3.
Coastal Bend added an insurance run in the bottom of the 7th. Vickers reached on error by Edinburg shortstop Angel Reyes and then stole second. Chris Lewis singled to left to drive Vickers in from 2nd to make the score 7-3.
Edinburg kept battling adding a run off of Thunder reliever Raul Trevino via a solo homerun by Bryon Smith to close the score to 7-4. Raul allowed the one run on two hits in his sole inning of relief. In the inning, Amadeo Zazueta ran down a soft liner to make an outstanding diving play for the third out.
The win improves the Thunder record to 15-12 and keeps the Thunder in at least a tie for second place. Coastal Bend looks to take the decisive game of the series tomorrow evening at 7:05 at Fairgrounds Field.
United League Baseball Stories from July 8, 2009
- Roadrunners Fall to the Thunder - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Goldsmith Delivers, Colts Win in Extra Innings - San Angelo Colts
- WhiteWings Bats Finally Erupt - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Broncos Lose a Wild One - Laredo Broncos
- Trujillo Shines in Thunder Debut - Coastal Bend Thunder
- Thunder Sign Carlos Rodriguez - Coastal Bend Thunder
- WhiteWings Sign Former Major League Pitcher - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- WhiteWings to Host Diamond Dig Thursday - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
