Smith’s big night leads Roadrunners past ’Wings

Special to the NEWS

HARLINGEN – Stantrel Smith went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored to lead the Edinburg Roadrunners past the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 13-9 on Wednesday at Harlingen Field.

With one out in the first, Antonio DeJesus walked against Roadrunners (15-18) starter Corey Goudeau. With the runner in motion, David Peralta grounded out to third. DeJesus went for third and the throw got away, allowing DeJesus to score to make it 1-0 WhiteWings (17-16).

The Roadrunners responded with a pair of unearned runs against Luis Chirinos (2-1) in the top of the second. Osiel Flores reached on an error and scored on a double by Smith. The Roadrunners then loaded the bases and Jason Thomas hit a sacrifice fly.

Francisco Santana gave the WhiteWings the lead back in the third with a two-run home run, his fifth of the year. DeJesus followed with a walk and later scored on a double play to make it 4-2.

The Roadrunners took the lead right back in the top of the fourth. One out after an RBI-single by R.J. Harris, C.J. Beatty hit his sixth home run of the year to make it 5-4.

Smith hit a two-run single and Welington Dotel hit an RBI-single to put the Roadrunners up 8-4 in the top of the fifth.

The WhiteWings got one back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI-single by Leivi Ventura, but Smith hit another two-run single on the top of the sixth to make it 10-5 Roadrunners.

The WhiteWings loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth against Matt Chutchian, setting up a three-run triple by Peralta and an RBI-single by Ventura to make it 10-9.

The Roadrunners score one in the seventh and two in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

That made a winner of Blake Parry (1-1), who retired all four batters he faced.

The WhiteWings and Roadrunners play game three of this five-game series on Thirsty Thursday at 6:05 p.m. Fans can purchase draft beers and cans of soda for $1 as well as bottles of beer and soda for $2 each. Right-hander Andy Wells (2-1, 6.49) is expected to face right-hander Scott Wingo (2-2, 3.31). Gates open at 6:05 p.m.