By Brian Argabright
It took more than a year, but Del Rio Rams baseball fans finally got to see their team play a home game.
The Rams, which saw their entire 2020 home schedule wiped out by the suspension and eventual cancellation of UIL activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, picked up a tough 7-6 win Tuesday night over the Eagle Pass C.C. Winn Mavericks.
Del Rio carried a three-run lead into the fifth inning before the Mavericks rallied to score four runs over the next two innings to leave the Rams down a run, 6-5.
The Rams rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Jose Borrego’s infield single and back-to-back errors by the Mavericks’ defense led to Borrego scoring the tying run and Matt Mendez scoring the eventual game-winning run.
Del Rio got some defensive help to seal the win as first baseman Will Cooper was able to stymie a ball in the dirt and then gather it back up to fire a perfect strike to catcher Josh Adams at home that picked off what would have been the game-tying run by C.C. Winn.
Eagle Pass would not challenge after that, as the Rams’ Alex Rodriguez was able to get Oscar Cavazos to ground out to end the game.
Del Rio built a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles by Jon Barragan and Cooper gave the Rams a pair of runners to start the inning. Adams then hit a ground ball that Winn’s J.P. Ramos fielded but threw wild of first base, leading to two runs scoring.
Courtesy runner Kobe Cardenas later scored on a single by Carlos Arredondo, who in turn scored off a sacrifice fly by Borrego to make it a 4-0 game.
After the Mavericks’ Roly Jimenez ripped a two-run double to cut Del Rio’s lead in half in the third, the Rams added their fifth run of the game after Sebas Patiño singled and pinch runner Ricky Martinez scored on an error by Winn’s left fielder.
Winn earned its third run on a wild pitch in the fifth before an RBI single by Ramos and a two-run single by Manny Melchor put Winn ahead in the sixth.
Borrego started the game for Del Rio on the mound and threw three innings. He retired the first six batters he faced before giving up three hits and two runs in the third.
Del Rio used five pitchers in the game. Aside from Borrego and Rodriguez, Patiño, Thomas Gambrel and Cooper each spent time on the mound.
The Rams will compete in the San Antonio Northside ISD Tournament beginning Thursday. Del Rio’s next home game isn’t scheduled until Friday, March 19 when they host Laredo United at 7 p.m. at The Bank & Trust Ram Field.
