vs
| 04/16/24 - Home | 13-3 W |
| 03/22/24 - Away | 10-0 W |
| 04/21/23 - Away | 10-2 W |
| 03/28/23 - Home | 12-2 W |
| 04/26/19 - Away | 1-2 L |
| + 5 more games |
Zapata has gone 9-1 against Raymondville recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. Zapata will welcome Raymondville at 7:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Zapata gave up the first runs last Tuesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They put the hurt on King with a sharp 13-4 win. The Hawks' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Lauro Guerra made a splash no matter where he played. He struck out 15 batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and not a single walk). That's the fewest hits he has allowed since back in February. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one home run, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in February.
In other batting news, Mario Garcia was a standout: he scored two runs while going 3-for-4. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in doubles (two). Another player making a difference was J.D. Salinas, who went 1-for-4 with four RBI and one run.
Meanwhile, Raymondville made easy work of Progreso on Tuesday and carried off a 14-1 victory.
Like Zapata, Raymondville also got a great game from a two-way player: Larry Perez. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 15 over six innings pitched. Perez has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Noel Reta, who scored two runs and stole four bases while going 3-for-4. He has become a key player for Raymondville: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two stolen bases, but 5-7 otherwise. Ryan Flores was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.
Raymondville always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .660. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Raymondville's win bumped their record up to 11-7. As for Zapata, their victory bumped their record up to 9-6.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Zapata has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .431. However, it's not like Raymondville struggles in that department as they've averaged .480. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Zapata took their win against Raymondville in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 13-3. Does Zapata have another victory up their sleeve, or will Raymondville turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
