Aces pound WhiteWings with late surge

Special to the Star

ALEXANDRIA, LA - The Harlingen WhiteWings led 3-2 half way through the game, but the Alexandria Aces poured it on late to win 11-3 Thursday at Bringhurst Field.
In the first, Luis Guance hit his eighth home run of the season, a one-out solo shot against Juan Jimenez (2-3), to make it 1-0 Aces.
In the second, Ryan Fox responded with his ninth home run of the season for the Wings (17-36), a lead-off solo shot against Ramon Portillo (5-2), to tie the game 1-1.
In the third, Amadeo Za-zueta led off with an in-field single. Kevin Griffin put down a sacrifice bunt, but third baseman Albert Gonzalez threw it away, allowing Zazueta to go to third. David Cardona followed with an RBI-double. One out later, Fox hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 WhiteWings.
That would be it against Portillo, who didn't allow another base runner until the seventh. He last six and one-third innings, allow-ing three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out seven.
The Aces (33-23) got one back in the fourth. With one out, Eddie Fitzpatrick walked and Bryan Sabatella singled. Guance followed with a single. Fitzpatrick tried to score, but Fox threw him out at the plate. Selwyn Langaign followed with an RBI-single to make it 3-2.
The Aces took the lead in the fifth. With one out, Andre Marshall drew an eight-pitch walk. Madison Edwards tied it with an RBI-double. One out later, Fitzpatrick hit an RBI-single to make it 4-3 Aces.
In the seventh, Guance led off with a walk against Bobby Darling, stole sec-ond and moved to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Palmer Karr Jr. walked. A wild pitch sent Guance home and Karr to second. Catcher Matt Kramer's throw to the plate went up the first base line, allowing Karr to go to third. Rafael Ozuna hit an RBI-single to knock out Darling. Clint Smith came in and gave up a single to Marshall and a two-run double Edwards to make it 8-3.
In the eighth, Fitzpatrick led off with a double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Sabatella walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Guance hit an RBI-ground out and Lan-gaigne followed with an RBI-double. Karr and Ozuea walked to knock out Smith. Justin Staatz came in and gave up an RBI-fielder's choice to Mar-shall.
The WhiteWings and Aces play game two of this five-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Bryan Herrera (0-0) will make his WhiteWings debut against right-hander Robbie Wooley (0-1).