By Brian Argabright
One inning of offense was all that Laredo United needed to stop Del Rio.
The Longhorns scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning and starting pitcher Albert Gonzalez did the rest, holding the Rams to four hits in a 4-0 shutout Tuesday night in Laredo.
The loss drops the Rams (3-5) one game out of the final playoff spot in District 30-6A with four games left to play. United clings to that final spot at 4-5.
The Longhorns were up 1-0 with two outs in the third when a two-run double by J Linn helped break the game open. United scored its final run on an error by the Rams.
Del Rio had its best chance to score in the top of the third inning after the Rams loaded the bases on singles by Carlos Arredondo and Alex Rodriguez and Matt Mendez reached on an error with one out. Gonzalez settled down after that and got Jose Borrego to foul out and Sebastian Patiño to ground out to end the inning and the scoring threat.
The Rams would manage just two more hits after that.
Rodriguez, Borrego, Josh Adams and Arredondo each had singles to account for Del Rio’s hits.
Del Rio will host the Laredo Nixon Mustangs tonight at 7 p.m. at The Bank & Trust Ram Field. Tickets for the game are still available online at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/delrioathletics?embed=1
