Rams go 2-1 on week

PORTALES — It’s not too hard to figure out as the middle goes, so go the Portales Rams.

During their three games last week, Portales had the following performances from their 4-5-6 hitters:

• 7-for-11, with 4 RBIs and four runs scored

• 2-for-9, with a grand slam and three runs scored

• 1-for-9 with a single and a run.

The first two, Portales won — 12-8 over Roswell in the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader and 10-4 over Texico Thursday. The latter, Portales lost in an 11-3 setback.

“The middle is huge for us,” Portales coach Dusty Nusser said, following the week that pushed the Ram record from .500 coming in (5-5) to just over .500 (7-6). “They’re the biggest key because we’ve got some other guys who are struggling. It stinks for them because they can’t struggle.”

It didn’t look like things were going to start off well Tuesday for the Rams, as the visiting Coyotes put up three-spots in the second, third and fourth innings.

Nobody was credited with an RBI on a four-hit game for the Rams, who were largely held in check by starter Langston Graham and reliever A.J. Palomino, who was perfect for the final 2 2/3 innings.

The second game was not a repeat by any means, with the Rams posting three-spots in the first two innings and two-spots in the next three in a 17-hit effort.

“We just saw the ball better,” Nusser said of the Tuesday nightcap. “We were able to get some hits, extend a few innings.”

Seven Rams had multi-hit games, led by Fernando Jimenez’ 2-for-4 effort witha double and three RBIs. Jordan Garcia and Chandon Neece both went 2-for-3, with Garcia driving in two and Neece one.

Against Texico, Jimenez didn’t need a multi-hit game to make a big impact, taking a Luke Phipps offering deep for a grand slam that made it 7-1 in the fourth. Garcia was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored, while Hagar Raines was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs out of the leadoff spot.

Brent Mitchell got the win against Texico, allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings of work, while Baylor Diaz won the nightcap against Roswell despite allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He gave up four hits, but was hurt by five walks and a pair of Ram errors.

“It was good,” Nusser said of the week. “We gave a lot of guys innings who we’ll need later this season. We got a lot of guys at-bats.”

Nusser said getting a few younger guys experience will prove valuable in the final weeks of the season, as catcher D.J. Martinez was lost to a thumb injury. The Rams will split duties between Isaiah Saiz and Price Preuit.

The Rams visit Eunice for a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday, and then host Clovis for a single game 5 p.m. Friday. The following three weeks will be District 4-4A play with a 5 p.m. Friday single game and a noon Saturday doubleheader — April 19-20 at Artesia, April 26-27 at Goddard and May 3-4 at home against Lovington.