Dillas crush Roadrunners, force Game 3

EDINBURG – Because of one bad start by Roadrunners pitcher Tim Haines, Edinburg has to travel 12 hours to Amarillo preserve its season.

Haines, who on Monday was named the Roadrunners’ Pitcher of the Year, was charged with nine earned runs in 3-plus innings as the Dillas routed the Roadrunners 14-3 in Game 2 of their ULB semifinal series. The Roadrunners’ loss sets up a decisive Game 3 tonight in Amarillo, something manager Vince Moore and Edinburg wanted to avoid.

Unfortunately, one of Haines’ worst starts came at a very inconvenient time for the Roadrunners, who must win tonight to reach the Championship Series, and just hours after a lengthy bus trip.

“They jumped on us, they jumped on us early,” Moore said. “They swung the bats well. They didn’t want to quit. Now we have to go to Amarillo. It’s a one-game series now.”

After holding the Dillas in the first, Haines gave up four runs in the third on five hits, including Stantrel Smith’s two-run home run that gave Amarillo a 2-0 lead. The fourth was even tougher for the Haines and the Roadrunners, with the Dillas scoring seven times. Haines was removed with none out after Carlos Figueroa was walked with the bases loaded to give the Dillas a 6-0 lead.

“It was just one of those days for him. Bad timing of course,” Moore said. “It is what it is, he had a bad outing and we just have to move on and get them tomorrow.”

EXTRA BASES: San Angelo defeated Coastal Bend 4-2 to clinch a spot in the ULB Championship Series. If the Roadrunners win tonight, they would host the best-of-5 series’ first two games, starting Friday night.

Brian Sandalow covers the Edinburg Roadrunners for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.