WhiteWings top Roadrunners

EDINBURG - The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings scored four runs late in the game to defeat the Edinburg Roadrunners 7-4 at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Friday night. With the loss the Roadrunners fall one game behind the WhiteWings for fourth in the United League standings.   

The Roadrunners got on the board in the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout by Carlos Hereaud that scored Wilmer Pino from third base for an early 1-0 lead.

Rio Grande Valley tied the game in the top of the third inning on an RBI triple by Agustin Septimo that scored Casey Allen.  Denys Lantigua then singled to right center field to allow Septimo to score from third giving the WhiteWings a 2-1 lead. 

Edinburg tied the game in the bottom of the fourth after Bryon Smith walked to lead off and then moved to third after a few wild pitches by starting Sendy Vasquez. Vincent Blue followed with a walk and took second, while Smith scored on the overthrow to second by WhiteWings catcher Sandy De Leon to make it a 2-2 game.

RGV took the lead once again in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI fielder’s choice from Rico Santana that scored Septimo from third making it 3-2 in favor of the WhiteWings. 

In the bottom of the seventh inning Osiel Flores led the inning off with a walk then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by B.J. Wheeler and moved to third where after lack of coverage on third base.  Pino hit an RBI ground out to third base that allowed Flores to touch home plate.  Robert Matlock then singled to center and later came in to score on an RBI single by Smith which gave the Roadrunners a 4-3 lead. 

The WhiteWings responded in the top of the eighth inning with two runs against starter Tim Haines (4-4) and then added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning against Aaron Guerra who came in to relieve Haines in the eighth. 

Julio Santana pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save.

The Roadrunners and WhiteWings will play the third game of this four-game series on Saturday night at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium. Miguel Martinez (3-2) is expected to face Juan Peralta (0-2) with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m.