Vickers Leads Offensive Explosion
August 17, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
Robstown, Texas - For the second consecutive night, the Coastal Bend Thunder jumped out to an early lead with a big first inning and never looked back en route to a 15-1 win at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown. The Thunder benefitted from an error that extended the inning to plate five unearned runs. Bryan Vickers paced an outstanding game for the Thunder offense belting two homeruns and driving in three. Chris Lewis smacked four hits and Amadeo Zazueta collected three of his own for Coastal Bend. Eight Thunder batters had at least one hit, and six had at least two hits.
Starter J.J. Trujillo improved his record to 4-2 as a member of the Thunder pitching staff. The Corpus Christi native got passed some early struggles and settled in nicely for a solid performance tonight at Fairgrounds Field. Over his seven innings of work, the former San Diego Padre allowed only one run, scattered nine hits, and struck out three. Alex Gett pitched the final two innings in relief of Trujillo. The Thunder righty allowed no runs and one hit while striking out two.
J.J. Trujillo got off to a bit of a rocky start in the first. After allowing three consecutive singles and a strikeout, Bryon Smith drew a bases loaded walk to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead. That is all the visitors would get, however, as Bryan Vickers threw out Matlock at home and Eric Gonzalez popped out to Zazueta.
Coastal Bend took advantage of a couple defensive miscues in the home half of the first and scored five unearned runs to grab a 5-1 advantage. After reaching on a single, Amadeo Zazueta advanced to third on a Manny Mejia fly ball Wilmer Pino's seventh error of the season. Alex Fernandez lined an RBI single to right center to tie the game at one. Carlos Rodriguez drove in both Mejia and Fernandez on a line drive triple to left centerfield. The next batter, Bryan Vickers, belted a two run home run that just stayed fair down the leftfield line.
The Thunder added a single tally in the second off Edinburg starter Pedro Flores. Dustin Smith coerced a leadoff walk and stole second. Later in the inning, Alex Fernandez drove in Smith on a sacrifice fly to leftfield.
For the third straight inning, the Coastal Bend offense sent a runner across home plate. Kevin Butler singled to get things started but was thrown out on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dustin Smith. Smith reached on the fielder's choice and stole second a few pitches later. Amadeo Zazueta drove in Smith from second with an RBI single to left to give the Thunder a 7-1 advantage.
The lead became six on Bryan Vickers second homerun of the ballgame. The solo blast was a no doubter to leftfield. The Thunder stretched the score to 10-1 on Kevin Butler's two run homer.
In the fifth, Coastal Bend tallied three more runs to extend the consecutive number of innings with at least one run to five. Four consecutive singles led to all the scoring. Zazueta, Lewis, and Mejia singled to load the bases. Zazueta crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the Thunder advantage to ten. Alex Fernandez singled to the gap in right centerfield, which allowed both Lewis and Mejia to score and make the score 13-1.
After the consecutive innings streak of at least one run ended in the sixth, the Thunder offense went back to work in the seventh and added two runs to an already impressive cushion. With one out, Chris Lewis singled through the left side. Mejia walked and Fernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Alfred Joseph. Joseph collected an RBI when he drew a walk. Bryan Vickers worked a full count and drew a walk as well to make the score 15-1.
Coastal Bend will host game three against Edinburg Tuesday at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown, Texas. Thirsty Tuesday will feature 16 oz. bottled beer for two dollars.
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United League Baseball Stories from August 17, 2009
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