The Harlingen Cardinals will head out on the road to take on the Raymondville Bearkats at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The last three games Harlingen has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Tuesday, Harlingen needed a bit of extra time to put away Edinburg. They had just enough and edged out the Bobcats 9-7. The Cardinals' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
The team relied heavily on Isaiah Gaytan, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-5. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024. Dominic Gonzales also deserves some recognition as he hit his first triple of the season.
Gaytan wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Harlingen kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Raymondville, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They blew past Santa Rosa 11-1 on Friday. The result was nothing new for the Bearkats, who have now won six contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Noel Reta made a splash no matter where he played. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. That's the fewest hits he has allowed since back in April of 2024. He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing five bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 1.2 stolen bases per game.
In other batting news, Diego Villegas was a standout: he scored three runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances. Jacob Sosa was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one home run and one stolen base.
Harlingen's victory ended a six-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 8-8. As for Raymondville, their record now sits at 10-6.
Harlingen took their win against Raymondville when the teams last played back in February of 2020 by a conclusive 9-0. Does Harlingen have another victory up their sleeve, or will Raymondville turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
