By Brian Argabright
Del Rio’s bats went silent when tasked with facing Laredo Nixon.
The Rams were held to just two hits as they dropped their second straight district game, 10-0, Monday night in Laredo. Del Rio drops to 1-2 in district after the loss.
Nixon did most of its damage in the fourth inning, scoring eight runs to build a 9-0 lead. The Mustangs added the 10th run in the bottom of the sixth inning to close out the game via the run-rule.
Matthew Mendez and Sebastian Patiño were the only Rams to manage any hits off Nixon’s Manny Gonzalez. Mendez got the Rams’ first hit in the top of the fourth inning with a single to left. Patiño would follow one batter later with a single of his own, but that would be the end of the Rams’ hits on the day.
Alex Rodriguez was the only other Ram to reach base safely, thanks to an error by Nixon’s centerfielder.
Nixon’s eight-run outburst featured 12 batters, led by the first six of the inning who reached base safely. It was a rough showing for Rams pitcher Will Cooper, who walked three of those batters and hit a fourth. He was pulled after Nixon built its lead to 4-0.
Relief pitcher Ruben Esquivel didn’t have much better luck. He got the first batter he faced to hit into a fielder’s choice, and then walked in a run, allowed a two-run double and an RBI single. Nixon’s final run came on a passed ball before Del Rio was able to get the final out of the inning.
Del Rio welcomes Laredo Alexander to town Friday for a 7 p.m. game at The Bank & Trust Ram Field.
