Brazos Valley Bombers stay in playoff hunt with 3-0 shut out of the Victoria Generals

The Brazos Valley Bombers (19-21) know they must win as many ball games as possible if they are to earn a playoff berth and they responded Sunday evening by shutting out the Victoria Generals (26-14) 3-0 at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark.

Joaquin Hinojosa was a catalyst in the win with his home run in the sixth inning and an inning of relief pitching after coming on to close things out by pitching the ninth inning.

Aaron Daab took the mound for the Bombers and held the Generals to two hits over four innings while his counterpart Covey Morrow was having his own success limiting the Bombers to just three hits over five innings of work. Daab, who is making his way back from Tommy John surgery, was on a 65-pitch limit.

It was the Bombers who managed to break up a scoreless tie in the sixth inning after Clifton Thomas drew a lead-off walk, stole second and third base, and came across to score on a throwing error. Hinojosa then came to bat and drove a towering shot over the left field fence to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead. His homer was his fourth of the season and set an all-time record for Brazos Valley.

Clifton Thomas came up with a one-out triple in the seventh inning and later scored on a ground out to first leaving the Bomber lead at 3-0. Garrett Fanchier pitch four innings of relief for the Bombers and gave up just one hit and one walk to earn the win. Daab struck out five and gave up no walks on the night.

The Bombers called on Hinojosa to pitch the ninth inning and he got the job done as he picked up a strike out on his way to picking up his sixth save of the season. Trevor Lundgrin took the loss for the Generals after giving up two runs on three hits over 2/3 of an inning of work.The Bombers win brought a halt to a seven game winning streak by Victoria.

The Coppell Copperheads come to town Monday for a two game set with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm.