By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Defense and strong pitching was the name of the game when Del Rio and Laredo United met for the second this season.
The teams combined for just 10 hits, but United edged the Rams, 2-1, to pick up an important win Tuesday night in Del Rio as the baseball regular season winds down and teams jockey for playoff positioning.
United started the scoring in the first inning.
Enrique Martinez led off with a single to right field. After Del Rio starting pitcher Tommy Gambrel retired the next two batters, he had trouble with his control and hit the next batter before walking the following two United hitters to bring in Martinez with the Longhorns’ first run.
Del Rio tied things up in the bottom of the first.
Alex Rodriguez led off with a single and then took second on an error by United pitcher Jesed Garza. After Ricky Limon reached on a fielder’s choice, Garza struck out the next two Rams. Jon Barragan walked to load the bases, and then Gambrel worked his way on base with another walk to bring in Rodriguez and tie the game at 1-1.
From there, both pitchers took control.
Garza allowed just two hits over the next six innings. He surrendered a single to Wade Cooper in the second and a single to Gambrel in the fourth inning. Both times Del Rio put in a courtesy runner, and both times Garza wiped them off the base paths by picking them off.
The only other base runners for Del Rio – Will Cooper and Limon – reached on Longhorns errors in the third and fifth innings, but neither player got past first base.
Gambrel was nearly as tough on the mound for Del Rio.
Over six innings he scattered five hits, hit one more batter and walked only one other hitter while allowing one more run past the first inning. Rodriguez came on to pitch in the seventh inning and gave up back-to-back hits, but did not allow a run.
United scored the eventual game winning run in the third inning.
Felipe Elizondo led off with a double to left field. After the next batter flew out, Matt Rangel delivered with a single to center field to drive in Elizondo to give United a 2-1 lead, which stood as the final.
Del Rio’s defense helped in keeping United from adding to its scoring. The infield turned a 5-4-3 double play in the third to finish the at-bat, and then turned a 6-4-3 double play in the sixth inning after to end the Longhorns’ at-bat after Gambrel intentionally walked Manuel Chaires to load the bases.
With only four teams headed to the postseason, the Rams’ margin for error is little to none. Pending Friday night’s game against Nixon, the Rams are 4-4 in district and in a dogfight against the Mustangs for the final playoff spot.
United, Eagle Pass and Laredo Alexander are within a game of each other for the top three sports, but each of those teams has at least a two-game lead on Del Rio and Nixon.
United South is 3-6 but still has to play Del Rio.
Del Rio was scheduled to play Laredo Nixon Thursday night due to the upcoming Easter weekend, but when the team arrived in Laredo they were informed the game was to be played Friday.
The Rams will host the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Bank & Trust Ram Field.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
