WhiteWings in 1st Place

June 18, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings collected a season-high 20 hits in a 7-2 victory against Fort Worth Monday night at Harlingen Field.

The victory allowed the WhiteWings to tie the Cats for first place in the North American Baseball League's South Division, as both teams have 15-9 records.

Not to be outdone by the WhiteWings' bats, Rio Grande Valley starting pitcher Luis Chirinos struck out 11 batters while not walking anyone in a 7-inning start to improve his record to 3-2. Chirinos allowed just two runs and five hits while retiring the last 14 batters he faced, while Eddie Dennis Jr. also fanned three Ft. Worth hitters in two hitless innings of relief.

"I was working hard every inning," said Chirinos. "Pitching down is very important and I was coming inside with the 2-seam fastball and my change was nasty."

Rio Grande Valley took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a 4-run uprising. After Luis Sumoz, Ruddy Yan, and Mario Mercedes all collected singles to start the inning and tie the game 2-2, Bryan Marquez gave the WhiteWings a 3-2 lead with a bases loaded walk off Cats starter and losing pitcher James Giulietti (1-2). Following a pitching change Leugim Barroso and Fidel Hernandez both drove in runs with singles off reliever Ken Holbrooks to give Rio Grande a 5-2 advantage.

Outfielders Yan and Francisco Santana paced the WhiteWings' attack with four hits, while infielders Barroso and Hernandez both collected three.

The WhiteWings will host the Cats in the second game of their four game series at Harlingen Field tonight at 7:05 p.m. ---1298053209-9729689-1340075972=:86909

HARLINGEN- The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings collected a season-high 20 hits in a 7-2 victory against Fort Worth Monday night at Harlingen Field.

The victory allowed the WhiteWings to tie the Cats for first place in the North American Baseball League's South Division, as both teams have 15-9 records.

Not to be outdone by the WhiteWings' bats, Rio Grande Valley starting pitcher Luis Chirinos struck out 11 batters while not walking anyone in a 7-inning start to improve his record to 3-2. Chirinos allowed just two runs and five hits while retiring the last 14 batters he faced, while Eddie Dennis Jr. also fanned three Ft. Worth hitters in two hitless innings of relief.

"I was working hard every inning," said Chirinos. "Pitching down is very important and I was coming inside with the 2-seam fastball and my change was nasty."

Rio Grande Valley took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a 4-run uprising. After Luis Sumoz, Ruddy Yan, and Mario Mercedes all collected singles to start the inning and tie the game 2-2, Bryan Marquez gave the WhiteWings a 3-2 lead with a bases loaded walk off Cats starter and losing pitcher James Giulietti (1-2). Following a pitching change Leugim Barroso and Fidel Hernandez both drove in runs with singles off reliever Ken Holbrooks to give Rio Grande a 5-2 advantage.

Outfielders Yan and Francisco Santana paced the WhiteWings' attack with four hits, while infielders Barroso and Hernandez both collected three.

The WhiteWings will host the Cats in the second game of their four game series at Harlingen Field tonight at 7:05 p.m.



North American League Stories from June 18, 2012


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