By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It was an up and down week for the Del Rio Rams baseball team.
The Rams picked up a big win over Laredo United March 17, but then were held to just one hit in a 9-0 loss to Laredo Nixon Tuesday on Del Rio’s home field. They then capped the week with a 6-1 loss at Laredo Alexander Friday night.
Rams 5, Laredo United 3
Del Rio improved to 2-0 in district play as they knocked off Laredo United, 5-3.
The Rams pounded out nine hits as a team, compared to the Longhorns’ seven hits.
Del Rio took a 2-1 lead in the first inning and built its lead to 4-1 before the Longhorns started chipping away. Del Rio would add one more run in the top of the sixth inning to seal the victory.
Matt Mendez’s double in the first inning plated the Rams’ first run. He would later score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jon Barragan to make it 2-0 in favor of the Rams.
In the second inning, Mario Soto doubled and later scored on a wild pitch to push Del Rio’s lead to 3-1.
Del Rio made it 4-1 in the top of the third inning when Wade Cooper singled and brought home courtesy runner Ethan Matherne.
The Rams capped their scoring in the top of the sixth inning when Will Cooper drove in Caden George with a single to left field.
Will Cooper earned the win for the Rams, throwing a complete game. He allowed three runs on seven hits but did not walk a batter and struck out a career-high 11 batters.
Cooper also helped his cause by going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Caden George also had a pair of hits. Alex Rodriguez, Mendez, Barragan, Soto and Wade Cooper each had one hit for the Rams.
Laredo Nixon 9, Rams 0
The Rams looked to improve to 3-0 Tuesday night when they hosted the Mustangs.
It was a rough night for the Rams as they were held to one-hit by Nixon’s Joey Gamez. Del Rio was only able to get runners on base in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Rodriguez was able to lead off the at-bat by reaching on an error by Nixon’s shortstop. After a sacrifice bunt by Ricky Limon, Mendez singled to centerfield to give the Rams a pair of runners with just one out.
However, Gamez settled down and struck out Will Cooper and Barragan to end the threat. Gamez would then retire the Rams’ final nine batters in order. Gamez finished the game with nine strikeouts.
Del Rio didn’t help its cause with seven errors.
Nixon scored its first run in the top of the second as Jose Escamilla reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a Del Rio error.
The Mustangs made it 3-0 in the top of the fourth as Brayan Rodriguez and Escamilla each scored thanks to another Del Rio error.
The lead grew to 6-0 in the top of the fifth. Ricky Rodriguez, Brayan Rodriguez and PG Garza scored thanks to three more Rams errors and an RBI single by Joey Herrera.
Nixon’s final three runs came in the top of the sixth. Ricky Rodriguez, Frank Cruz, running for Gamez, and Brayan Rodriguez scored on a Rams error and a two-run single off the bat of Escamilla.
Laredo Alexander 6, Rams 1
Alexander jumped on the Rams early and never let the team get back into the game Friday night, handing Del Rio its second straight loss, 6-1.
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and then built that lead to 4-0 before the Rams scored their only run in the top of the fourth inning. Alexander countered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to cap the game’s scoring.
Del Rio’s fourth started with a single by Ricky Limon. Mendez would walk to put two runners on with no outs, but Limon would get picked off second base for the Rams’ first out. Will Cooper then sent Mendez to third with a single to left.
Barragan brought Mendez home with a single to right for Del Rio’s lone run.
Del Rio had four hits in the game. Rodriguez, Limon, Will Cooper and Barragan accounted for all of the Rams hits. Mendez and George were also able to reach base via walks.
The Rams’ next home game will be Tuesday, March 29 when they host the Laredo United South Panthers at 7 p.m. at The Bank & Trust Ram Field.
—
Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
