By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — A little more than 24 hours after Harlingen High jumped out to an early lead against its crosstown rival — only to see the lead slip through its grasp — coach Armando Rangel’s squad was determined to ensure that Friday night’s outcome against Rivera would be different.
“I told them last night, last night is just another game for us,” Rangel said. “We get all riled up because we’re playing our rivals and they’re at home, but I told them when we boarded the bus, it’s just another game. We play each team three games, and last night we just lost the first game of the series, and same thing for tonight. We have to play these guys two more times.”
Behind a complete game from ace John Ortega, the Cardinals (11-8, 4-1 32-6A) cruised to a 6-2 win, handing the Raiders (14-5, 4-1 32-6A) their first district loss and asserting that Harlingen High is still very much in the mix in a crowded 32-6A field.
Ortega allowed two runs on four hits. His two walks allowed tonight are the first he’s surrendered in three district starts this season, due in part to the even-keeled manner in which he takes the mound.
“It means a lot to me as a pitcher, it puts a lot of pressure on me,” Ortega said of his walk rate and role in the bounce-back victory. “Not only because the game is a pretty big deal in my hands, but also because I have to stay positive because I know my team’s going to need me to make a defensive play as a pitcher or just to get a strikeout.”
The Cardinals jumped all over Raiders starting pitcher Rey Rivera, who allowed five runs on two hits and four walks, including a base on balls issued to leadoff man Abraham Ibarra to start the game.
Rivera threw 75 pitches in two innings and was replaced by right fielder Alan Eugia during the third.
Shortstop Thomas Lyssy followed Ibarra by showing bunt, pulling back and poking a blooper into short left field over the head of charging third baseman Rian Rosales.
“We saw him rushing in, they were crashing the corners,” Rangel said. “(Lyssy) is a good contact hitter, so I figured, ‘Hey, go ahead and take a swing at it.’ They crashed down, and that opened up the big first inning.”
Lyssy advanced from first to second after Ibarra was caught straying too far off second base. In the resulting confusion generated by the rundown, Ibarra came around to score on a throwing error that brought Lyssy to third and got the Cardinals on the board.
Catcher Aaron Pacheco stroked a one-out RBI single to left to make it 2-0. First baseman George Stillman drew a walk and center fielder Frank Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Third baseman Abel Flores singled up the middle to bring home a pair of runs. The Cardinals capped a five-run first when Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch.
The Cardinals converted another first-and-third rundown into an insurance run during the third inning, as Flores gave himself up at second but not before Ortega scored Harlingen High’s sixth run.
The Raiders responded in the second inning, when second baseman Jose Hernandez tripled into the right-center gap. Hernandez scored the first Rivera run on a Lazaro Valdez single during the second, awakening the home dugout and the Rivera crowd.
Eugia singled home Valdez to chip away at the deficit, bringing the Raiders within three runs. While Rivera rallied during its last gasp in the seventh, Ortega put out the fire and closed the game, stranding runners on first and second.