By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s district baseball opener couldn’t have gone any better for the Rams.
Del Rio pounded out 14 hits and scored 18 runs in a 18-0 shutout of Laredo LBJ Tuesday night at The Bank & Trust Ram Field.
It was Del Rio’s fifth win in a row after going 4-0 at the Laredo ISD tournament the weekend prior.
Rams starting pitcher Alex Rodriguez hurled a gem, allowing just two hits and three base runners in five innings of work. He also struck out four and did not allow a runner past second base.
He got plenty of support from his fellow Rams.
Del Rio opened the game with 11 runs in the first inning aided by six hits and four LBJ errors. Matt Mendez drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field while Ricky Limon, Jon Barragan and Thomas Gambrel each drove in a run as well.
Will Cooper had the big hit of the inning with a two-run blast that brought him and Mendez around to cap the 11-run outburst.
In the second inning, Daniel Crispin had an RBI groundout and Rodriguez helped his own cause with an RBI single to right to bring home courtesy runner Harrison Taylor.
Del Rio increased its lead to 16-0 in the third inning.
Mendez kicked off the scoring with a solo home run to lead off the Del Rio at-bat. Will Cooper would double and later score on an error. The second run of the inning came from Rick Martinez who entered the game to run for Gambrel after he was hit in the back of the neck by a pitch. Martinez scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Crispin.
Del Rio closed out its scoring with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Ricky Limon and Mendez hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the at-bat. Barragan then drove one run in with a one-out single to left field. One batter later, Mario Soto brought in Mendez with an RBI single to center field.
Mendez went 3-for-4 to lead Del Rio. Rodriguez, Limon, Will Cooper and Barragan each had two hits.
The Rams return to action Friday when they travel to Laredo to face the United Longhorns at Krueger Field at 7 p.m.
Del Rio’s next home game will be Tuesday, March 22 when the Rams host the Laredo Nixon Mustangs at 7 p.m.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
