By Brian Argabright
Del Rio got its hits, but couldn’t find the runs it needed in its latest district match-up.
The Rams had six hits and had runners on base every inning but one against Laredo United Friday, but Del Rio could manage only two runs as they dropped their first district game of the season, 5-2.
Del Rio fell behind 3-0 in the top of the third as United took advantage of some wildness from Rams’ starting pitcher Jose Borrego. Daniel Villanueva delivered two of those runs with a bases loaded single to right field. Borrego loaded the bases after hitting two Longhorns batters and walking a third. The third run came in on a wild pitch.
The Rams got two of those runs back in the bottom of the inning.
Ricky Limon led off the at-bat with a walk, and then stole second base. After a fly ball out, Matthew Mendez brought Limon in with a double. After a strikeout gave the Rams their second out, Sebastian Patiño singled to bring home Mendez to cut the lead to 3-2.
United wouldn’t let the Rams get any closer, tacking on two more runs in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Alejandro Rocha and an error by Borrego that allowed Rocha to eventually score.
Borrego scattered three hits over seven innings of work, but two errors and the erratic third inning led to him taking the loss. He also struck out five people.
Patiño went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Mendez was 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Alex Rodriguez and Borrego also had a hit each.
The Rams return to action on Monday when they travel to Veterans Stadium in Laredo to face the Nixon Mustangs at 7 p.m.
Del Rio’s next home game will be Friday, March 26, when they welcome the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs to The Bank & Trust Ram Field for a 7 p.m. tilt.
