By Brian Argabright
Del Rio’s hopes for a playoff berth in baseball are hanging on by the slimmest of threads.
A 10-0 loss to Laredo Alexander on Tuesday put the Rams (4-6) two games out of the final playoff spot with two games remaining. Standing in front of them are the Laredo United Longhorns, who also split their season series with Del Rio.
A half game behind the Rams is the Laredo Nixon Mustangs at 4-7. They’ll face United, who is 5-5 in district, tonight in Nixon’s final game of the regular season.
As for the Rams, they get district co-leading Laredo United South (8-2) at home tonight in the final home game of the season for the Rams. It is also Senior Night, so the Del Rio seniors will be honored following the conclusion of the game.
Tuesday night was one to forget for the Rams, and one they’ll need to forget if they want to entertain thoughts of a playoff appearance. A loss by Del Rio or a win by United knocks the Rams out of contention.
Against Alexander, the Rams fell behind 6-0 in the first inning. They wound up allowing 10 runs in five innings buoyed by 14 Alexander hits.
The Rams managed just three hits for the game. Alex Rodriguez, Matt Mendez and Jon Barragan each had a single for the Rams. Jose Borrego and Carlos Arredondo were able to reach base via walks.
The Rams actually had a chance to grab the lead in the first inning after loading the bases on hits by Rodriguez and Mendez and a walk to Borrego to open the game. But Alexander settled down and retired the next three batters to kill the threat.
Del Rio wouldn’t get another base runner until the fourth inning when Barragan singled to left field. After that, Arredondo’s walk in the fifth inning was the final base runner for Del Rio. Neither of them made it past first base.
Tonight’s game begins at 7 p.m. at The Bank & Trust Ram Field. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/delrioathletics?embed=1
