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Portales inched out

PORTALES - Be aggressive on offense, and tip your cap if the defense makes the play to get you out. That's the mantra for most high school baseball programs.

That was the Portales Ram program on Friday night. Problem was, Taos made the plays and did just enough to steal an extra-inning 8-7 win from the Rams to close out Friday night's session of the Ram Invitational.

Portales (4-4) was scheduled to finish up the tournament with games Saturday against Ruidoso and St. Michael's.

Catcher German Perez was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs for Taos (7-6), which entered the contest just 25 minutes after a 17-2 drubbing from St. Michael's, blew a late 6-3 lead and recovered in the eighth by grabbing a pair of runs on a wild pitch with two outs.

The key plays to the win, however, came when they were on the field.

With the bases loaded and Taos hanging onto a 6-5 lead, Portales catcher DJ Martinez hit a hard ground ball to short. Shortstop Quinn Moon made an error on the ball that allowed the tying run to score, but made the throw home to get Price Preuit for the third out.

The Rams put runners at the corners in the bottom of the eight and tried a double steal. Perez conceded the run, and got the runner at second. With the bases empty, Jalen Montano handled the rest.

"You've got to tip your hat," Portales coach Dusty Nusser said of Toas. "They made a few good plays defensively. They also made a few great baserunning plays that led to a few runs."

Brent Mitchell pitched six innings for the Rams, giving up six runs on nine hits. Nusser thought the Rams got enough from their pitchers to have a chance at the win.

"Ten strikeouts and three walks," Nusser said. "Our pitchers gave us everything we should need."

Following the invitational, the Rams host Lovington in a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader.