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WhiteWings Win in 11

July 30, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Salvador Paniagua hit his second game ending home run in a week to give Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings a 5-3 victory against the Fort Worth Cats Monday night at Harlingen Field.

Paniagua, who hit .324 with nine home runs for Rio Grande Valley in 2010, was signed last Wednesday by the WhiteWings after playing 40 games this year with the Atlantic League's York Revolution.

Since that time, he has given the WhiteWings (35-28) their only two victories, first on a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth on June 26 to beat McAllen 6-2, and then last night to left field with a man on in the bottom of the 11th off Brandon Wilkerson (5-1).

Ironically, since he was batting with Leivi Ventura on second and nobody out, Paniagua moved out of a squaring position to sacrifice back into a normal batting stance as Wilkerson threw to hit his third home run since returning to Rio Grande Valley.

"It was my option," said Paniagua, referring to whether or not he was given the bunt sign from manager Eddie Dennis on the 2-1 count. "I made the adjustment to hit the ball."

In doing so, the WhiteWings avoided a four-game sweep by the Cats (36-27) and are only one game back of Fort Worth for the final playoff berth in the North American Baseball League's United Division as the season heads into its final five weeks.

Paniagua also drove in a first inning run with an opposite field single to right that plated Ruddy Yan, who is on a nine game hitting streak. Romulo Ruiz added a sacrifice fly off Steve Barnes to give the WhiteWings a 2-0 lead.

But Scott Dalrymple, who came into the series batting .128, hit a 2-run home run to left off WhiteWings starter Erinzon Bautista to tie the game in the second inning. Dalrymple finished the series 7 for 12.

Chad Gabriel, who had three hits for the Cats, scored on a pass ball in the fourth inning to give Fort Worth a 3-2 lead, but Ruiz hit his third homer of the year to left in the sixth off starter Steve Barnes to tie the game again.

The WhiteWings enjoyed stellar relief pitching from Wander Perez, who induced three Cats batters to hit into double plays to end scoring threats in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, and Nick Lenzendorf (3-1).

Lenzendorf has thrown 11 straight scoreless innings in relief and earned either a save or a victory in his last seven outings.

After an off day, the WhiteWings travel to Edinburg to play the McAllen Thunder on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Rio Grande Valley fans making the trip will be treated to an appearance by mascot WildWing at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.

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