MISSION — The Rio Grande City Rattlers kept their perfect District 30-5A record intact by taking down La Joya Palmview 2-0 at Palmview High School on Thursday.
RGC senior right-handed pitcher and UTRGV commit Mike Ramos threw a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts against the Lobos and received tremendous effort from his defense.
“It was all about the defense and Mikey doing a great job on the mound. He trusts his defense,” Rio Grande City head coach Rock Cortinas said. “I knew it was going to be one of those games. That’s a great pitcher over there. He’s young and he’s going to be tough, but we got it done.”
Ramos improved to 5-1 overall this season, while his ERA dropped to 0.70.
“My mentality taking the mound was I just wanted to get the win for my team, do the best I can do and do my part. Everyone did their job, my team had my back and we had a good win,” he said.
“I felt great. Everything was working, my defense helped me out with some good plays and we worked it out.”
The Rattlers (12-3, 7-0) plated one run during the first inning after a wild pitch allowed Eddie Garza to score. RGC’s second run of the game came off an Eden Barrera base hit, which drove in Honelio Leal during the fifth.
Palmview sophomore right-handed pitcher Ezie Puente was just as dynamic on the mound, but the Lobos (10-2, 5-2) didn’t help offensively, leaving nine runners on base.
Puente pitched a complete game and struck out eight, while scattering five hits and four walks over seven innings. Joe Cerda led the Lobos at the plate with a 3-for-3 day.
Rio Grande City’s Manny Garza finished 2 for 3 with one walk, while Barrera went 1 for 3 and was responsible for the Rattlers’ only RBI.
RGC now has a firm handle on the top spot in District 30-5A after improving to 7-0. With three games remaining, the Rattlers are one step closer to clinching a district title.
Meanwhile, the loss was just Palmview’s second of the year, but it was also the second at the hands of Rio Grande City. The Lobos sit two games back of RGC in the 30-5A standings.
Next for Rio Grande City is a week off before hosting Roma at 7 p.m. on April 9. Meanwhile, Palmview will travel to face Laredo Cigarroa at 2 p.m. on April 10.
