Sports stats



WhiteWings Win

July 23, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


HARLINGEN- Cole Stephens scattered four hits and threw 6 2/3 shutout innings for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings as they opened an eight game homestand with a 5-0 victory against the McAllen Thunder Monday night.

Stephens (5-2) saw his prominence in the starting rotation increase with the WhiteWings' Monday morning sale of righthander Luis Chirinos (7-3) to El Paso of the American Association.

He responded by using his slider and cut fastball as out pitches and worrying less about finesse.

"It's more of a mindset to have fun than bear down," Stephens said of his attitude on the mound. "I'd been trying to hit the corners too much in previous starts. That got me in trouble."

"That is what good teams do. When someone good leaves the rest need to pick up the slack," said Rio Grande Valley manager Eddie Dennis.

While the 24-year-old righthander from Amarillo earned his third victory of the year against McAllen, the WhiteWings (32-24) took a 2-0 advantage when a throwing error from Thunder catcher Matt Redding trying to throw out strikeout victim Romulo Ruiz allowed baserunners Fidel Hernandez and Leivi Ventura to score in the first inning off Alex Smith (1-2).

The WhiteWings added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when Ruiz scored on a one out Luis Sumoza single and Mario Mercedes, who had three hits in the game, scored on a pass ball.

The WhiteWings added a final run in the bottom of the seventh when Mercedes reached McAllen (20-37) reliever Jason Moody for a bases-loaded walk.

Alberto Reyes retired all seven batters he faced in relief.

The WhiteWings and Thunder play the second game of their four game series at Harlingen Field tonight at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night will be the WhiteWings' "Christmas in July" promotion where the first 500 fans coming to the game will receive a free "glow-in-the-dark" baseball from AEB.

• Discuss this story on the North American League message board...

North American League Stories from July 23, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central