By Brian Argabright
Del Rio is keeping pace for the final baseball playoff spot, but they’re going to need some help down the stretch if they want to reach the postseason.
The Rams kept their playoff hopes alive Friday with a tough 3-2 win over Laredo Nixon. With the win, the Rams (4-5) sit a half game out of the final playoff spot with three games left to play.
Del Rio trails fourth-place Laredo United (5-5), which won its game Friday night 3-0 over Laredo LBJ.
Both teams benefited from Laredo Alexander’s (9-3) loss to Eagle Pass, 9-1, over the weekend. Eagle Pass (8-2) temporarily moved into first place in the district as Laredo United South (7-2), which had a bye this weekend, fell a half game out of first place.
Del Rio did all its damage in the bottom of the third inning.
After Ricky Limon led off the inning with a walk, Alex Rodriguez followed with a picture perfect bunt that caught Nixon out of position and put runners at first and second.
The Rams got their first out when Matt Mendez flew out to the shortstop, but Jose Borrego followed with a double to left field that cleared the bases and put Del Rio ahead, 2-0. Borrego was replaced at second base by courtesy runner Ryan Madera, and he would eventually score on a Will Cooper single to left field to make it a 3-0 game.
The score stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning when Nixon scored two runs to cut the deficit to one. Brayan Rodriguez smacked a two-run single to right field to plate Jose Escamilla and Aidan Salazar to make it a 3-2 game.
Del Rio’s defense made that slim lead stick, turning double plays in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to end any chance of Nixon tying the game.
Borrego went the distance for the Rams, throwing a complete game. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven to earn the win.
As a team, the Rams had eight hits. Sebastian Patiño and Will Cooper each had two hits while Rodriguez, Mendez, Borrego and Josh Adams each had one hit.
The Rams will be in Laredo Tuesday to take on Alexander at 7 p.m. at Krueger Field.
Del Rio’s next home game will be Friday, April 23, when they face the Laredo United South Panthers at 7 p.m. That will also be Senior Night, as the seniors on the team will be honored after the game. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/delrioathletics?embed=1
