Mules vs. Amarillo River Road (3-14-2016)

Mules vs. Amarillo River Road (3-14-2016)

The high winds during Spring Bring cooled off the Mules bats when the Amarillo River Road Wildcats came to town for a double header. The Wildcats defeated the Mules 14-4 in the first game of the day but the Mules made a better showing in game two.

It appeared that the Wildcats used up most of their runs in game one and only scored three runs in the second game. But the Mules’ bats stayed cold and could only push across two runs to lose the second game 3-2.

All five runs were scored in the first three and a half innings.

Bryce Mauricio gave up a base hit to the leadoff Wildcat batter. He struck out the second batter and pitched a ground ball to Jason Florez at short stop for the second out. He hit the next batter to put runners at first and second.

The next Wildcat sent a line drive to right field. Jamie Ceja stepped only had time to take one step to his left but made the catch for the final out.

It was four up and three down for the Mules and the first inning ended in a 0-0 tie.

Three Wildcat base hits scored two Wildcats in the top of the second inning. Mauricio struck out one batter, one lined out to JoJo Rejino at second and the final out was a ground ball to third that Danny Campos scooped up and threw to Jaxon Lee at first base.

Rigo Mendoza walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Reese Orozco sent a ground ball up the middle for a single. A strike out cost the Mules an out. Lee lofted a fly ball to right field to sacrifice home Mendoza. The Mules trailed the Wildcats 2-1 after two innings.

A fly ball to centerfield was chased down by Mikey Lozano to start the third inning. A ground ball to short was charged by Florez and he made the throw to Lee at first for the second out. Back-to-back base hits put Wildcat runners at the corners. A fly ball to center was tracked down by Lozano for out number three.

The first two Mules to the plate grounded out before Florez hit a ground ball to the shortstop that he bobbled for an error. A throwing error on the pitcher allowed Florez move to second base. Florez scored on a single to right field. The Mules had tied the game at 2-2 after three innings.

Mauricio struck out the first batter he faced in the top of the fourth inning. A Mule error allowed the second batter to reach first base. A triple to right center scored a run. The Mules trailed 3-2 and could not score again.

Mauricio continued to shut out the Wildcats through the fifth inning. Florez took the mound in the sixth inning and shut out the Wildcats in the final two innings.

Mauricio struck out five Wildcats, walked one batter, hit one batter and stranded eight runners on base. Florez struck out one batter, stranded one runner and walked none.

The Mules recorded five base hits and stranded five on base.

The Mules hosted the Pampa Harvesters Tuesday and will travel to Littlefield to play the Littlefield Wildcats in the two teams district opener Friday at noon. The Mules will host the Dimmitt Bobcats Monday, March 28, at 4:00 PM.