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WhiteWings Win in Dramatic Fashion

July 26, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Luis Noel pitched eight shutout innings and Salvador Paniagua hit a game ending grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings a 6-2 victory against the McAllen Thunder Thursday night at Harlingen Field.

Paniagua, who had signed with the WhiteWings (34-25) on Wednesday after being cut by the York Revolution of the Atlantic League, was 0 for 7 until his dramatic blast to left field with one out off righthander Yunier Colon. He had previously played in Rio Grande Valley in 2010, hitting .324 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in in 34 games.

"I was trying to swing too hard a little before," Paniagua said. "My goal was to hit it on the barrel."

The WhiteWings took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth thanks to eight shutout innings from Luis Noel, who allowed only four hits and did not walk a batter in his outing while striking out six.

"I just feel like I'm throwing more strikes and am more aggressive," said Noel.

But Thunder (21-39) centerfielder Craig Hertler greeted reliever Wander Perez with a triple to left center field to lead off the ninth, and Yaser Gomez followed with a single to left. Gomez later scored with one out and the bases loaded when Nathan Tomaszewski reached on an error by shortstop Leugim Barroso, but Nick Lenzendorf then induced Mike Goss to hit into an inning ending double play to Barroso.

In the bottom of the ninth, Ruddy Yan greeted tough luck loser Demetrius Banks (3-5) with a double down the third base line. After a sacrifice from Barroso, Banks was relieved after allowing only three hits, all to Yan, in 8 1/3 innings. Colon then walked two batters intentionally before giving up Paniagua's blast.

The victory allowed Rio Grande Valley to take three of four games in their series with McAllen. The WhiteWings now host the Fort Worth Cats, who only trail Rio Grande Valley for the final playoff spot in the North American Baseball League's United Division, by a game, for four games.

Tonight is Rio Hondo/San Benito Community Night, where residents of those metropolises can get $4 reserve seats with identification. Game time is 7:05 p.m.



North American League Stories from July 26, 2012


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