Longview Erupts Late For 7-4 Win Over District 12-5A Rival Tyler Lee

TYLER -- The Longview Lobos' up-and-down season reached another peak Tuesday in their matchup with rival Tyler Lee.

Longview erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-4 win over the Red Raiders at Mike Carter Field, a win that pulled the Lobos (12-6, 3-2) even with Lee (10-6, 3-2) for second place in District 12-5A.

The Lobos have now won three straight after losing six of seven, which followed an 8-0 start to the season.

"It just gives us extra confidence, extra mojo and that's what we want and that's what we need just to kinda keep it rolling," said Longview coach Bennie Martinez. "Every game from here on out is going to be big for us. When we play our game and do a good job, we can beat anybody."

With the game tied 3-3, Longview loaded the bases with one out. Tre Allen's two-run single to shallow center field off Lee closer JD Cobb put the Lobos ahead for good, and Alec Bradshaw's two-run double broke the game open.

Bradshaw finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Longview.

"We went through that rut where we were losing a lot of one-run ballgames and outhitting everybody but not getting timely hits," Martinez said. "Tyler Lee outhit us today but our hits mattered more, and that's just talking to them about making their at-bats matter and having a good approach. Hats off to my guys for listening to what we've been talking about and executing."

Cobb took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked one in two innings of relief.

"JD has been the guy we wanted in that spot all year, and that is what he has done for us -- get outs in that inning," Lee coach David Howard said. "You've got to give Longview credit; he was making good pitches and they were hitting them. They were able to hit a couple balls over outfielders. They swing it, that's what they do."

Tyler Lee's Brian Eng sprints toward home during the Red Raiders' 7-4 loss to Longview on Tuesday in Tyler. (© Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Staff ace Zach Flanagan pitched the first five innings for Tyler Lee, his first action in almost three weeks after nursing a knee injury. The Howard College signee allowed three runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

"He hadn't been out there in a while, so I felt really good about what he did," Howard said. "He got stronger as he went I thought. His pitch count got somewhere where I wasn't comfortable since he hadn't pitched in about three weeks."

Lee put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever Jared Pauley came in and induced Flanagan into a 5-4-3 double play. And after a Ben Romines RBI single, he got Chander Hill to fly out to center for the game's final out.

Spencer Barton went the first six innings on the mound for Longview to earn the win. He allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

"Spencer pitched an unbelievable game here last year to kinda keep us in the hunt district-wise last year," Martinez said. "So I felt like we had some good positive energy coming into Mike Carter. We've had previous success, and I felt like that would help propel us to some more success."

Longview took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Pauley's infield single that scored Bradshaw, but Lee tied it up in the bottom half when Hill crossed home after a throwing error by the catcher.

The Lobos recaptured the lead in the next inning on Dez Chumley's two-out, two-run triple to right field.

Lee's Ryan Rendon cut the Longview lead to 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI single, and the Red Raiders tied it in the sixth on pinch-hitter Marty Antilley's fielder's choice RBI.

Rendon finished 3-for-3 with a steal, while Hill was 2-for-3 with a steal and a run scored to lead Lee at the plate.

"This was a great high school baseball game," Howard said. "You've got to give them credit. Longview has a great team and they do a great job at the plate. (Barton) threw a ton of strikes. I felt like it was a well-played game all the way around. They had that one big inning and we weren't able to do it."

Longview returns to action Thursday at home against Rockwall, while Lee is at district-leading Rockwall-Heath.