By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — Los Fresnos overcame a 4-0 deficit and scored 11 straight runs — including eight during the third inning — to defeat Lopez 11-4 in the District 32-6A opener for both teams Friday.
“I just told them to be patient, it’s a long game,” Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said. “We have to keep playing, and good things are going to happen. I think they were a little nervous getting back on the field after almost a whole week.”
Lopez (0-1 in District 32-6A) came out swinging in the first two innings. Robert Gomez got the Lobos on the board with a two-run double during the first inning. An inning later, Alex Olguin hit a double to drive in two more runs to give Lopez the early 4-0 lead.
But Los Fresnos (1-0) answered during the bottom half of the second. The Falcons scored a run on a throwing error and added another on a single by Able Rodriguez to cut the deficit in half.
During the third, Los Fresnos put eight men across the plate on five singles — including two-run singles by Nicholas Montemayor and Rodriguez — a walk and a pair of errors, all before the first out. The offensive explosion knocked out Lopez starter Sabas Lopez, who finished the night after he allowed 10 runs, nine hits, two walks and struck out three in two innings.
“We jumped on them 4-0 in two innings, but after that we fell flat because we killed ourselves mentally with our errors,” Lopez coach Victor Martinez said. “We had too many errors, and you can’t expect to win too many ballgames when you make errors. You have to play close to perfect ball when you play teams like these, any error could be the game. We had more than one error, and that was basically the difference.”
Rodriguez added another RBI single for the Falcons during the fourth inning. He finished 3 for 3 with one run scored and four RBIs.
Los Fresnos backed its starting pitcher, Montemayor, who earned the win after going six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
“I sat down and talked to him, calmed him down a little,” Morales said. “I think he just got in a groove throwing strikes. We started making plays behind him, and that makes a big difference.”
Los Fresnos’ Samuel Garcia notched the save, getting a double play and a fly ball to retire the side after allowing a leadoff single to Olguin.
Martinez felt his team wasn’t ready mentally, especially after a few mistakes cost it the lead. But he isn’t worried.
“One error went down, and things fell apart,” he said. “It’s just one game, one game. We have to stay tough, stay united and focused on our goal, which is to make playoffs.
“We’ll bounce back from this.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.