WhiteWings Bring Thunder to Coastal Bend

Published on August 4, 2009 under United League Baseball (ULB)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


Robstown - Alberto Cruz, Joaquin Rodriguez and Juan Cabrera all hit home runs to lead the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings past the Coastal Bend Thunder 7-6 tonight at Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds Field.

The WhiteWings (24-29) got on the board against Alejandro Martinez right away. With one out in the first, Joaquin Rodriguez singled and moved to second on a wild pickoff throw. After a Rico Santana singled moved Rodriguez to third, Brian Nichols hit a sacrifice fly. Welinson Baez followed with an RBI-double to make it 2-0.

The Thunder (24-29) responded against Jose Fragoso in the bottom of the inning. After not issuing a walk in his first outing, Fragoso dealt a four-pitch walk to Michael Lewis to leadoff the inning. Amadeo Zazueta hit a grounder to short, but the flip to second was not in time for the force. Two outs later, Alex Fernandez drew an eight-pitch walk. Fragoso fell behind Chris Lewis 2-and-0. The next pitch was deposited on the other side of the leftfield wall to make it 4-3.

Cruz led off the top of the second with his eighth home run of the season to make it 4-3.

The Thunder got that run back in the bottom of the innings. Michael Lewis hit a one-out double, stole third and scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Rodriguez hit a low-laser line drive over the left field wall, his fifth home run of the season, to bring the WhiteWings within 5-4 against Miliade Venas.

Cabrera hit his first home run since joining the club with two outs in the eighth to tie the game.

The WhiteWings took the lead against David Parker (2-3) in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Rodriguez and Santana hit singles. Santana moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-run single by Nichols to make it 7-5.

That made a winner of Wendy Rosa (1-2), who pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out one while scattering two hits and two walks.

Julio Santana pitched the ninth for his league-leading fourteenth save while giving up one run on two hits.

The WhiteWings and Thunder play game two of this four-game series tomorrow night at 7:05. Right-hander Juan Peralta (1-2) is expected to face left-hander Ricardo Morales (1-1).

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