SAN ANTONIO- Dominant pitching was the order of the day as Rene Solis came within one out of a complete game shutout of the Pericos while James Brown, Brandon Cowan, and Reid Hoffler outdueled Hidekatsu Mitani and Fumitaka Sakaguichi in Friday’s Texas Winter League action.

WRANGLERS 1 - APACHES 0

The idea of showcase baseball is to show scouts and managers what one can do in game situations, thereby overcoming less-than-impressive resumes.

Such was the case of the Wranglers’ 1-0 victory against the Apaches Friday afternoon at Nelson Wolff Stadium. Right-hander James Brown, lefty Brandon Cowan, and right-hander Reid Hoffler combined for a three hit shutout of the Apaches (3-4) to keep their team in first place in the Texas Winter League standings.

Brown (2-0) is not a particularly intimidating presence on the mound, standing 6-0 tall. Wranglers (4-2-1) third baseman Jake Taylor has been known to “chirp” at the Charleston, South Carolina native to keep him focused.

Brown did not put up particularly impressive statistics with NJCAA South Carolina-Sumter, either, first trying to pitch as a submariner out of the bullpen and then experiencing arm problems his sophomore year.

But after walking eight batters in less than four innings in his first two appearances, Brown shutout the Apaches and allowed only one hit in four innings of work. Though he still had some problems with control, walking four batters, he also fanned four and did not walk anyone until he was in his third inning of work.

Brown credited slowing down his pace for his success. He even wrote the word “relax” on his left wrist before earning the start.

But according to Apaches’ first baseman Chris Carmouche, he threw harder than any of the two pitchers that followed him, Cowan and Hoffler.

More importantly, he made the lone run scored for him in the top of the first when Jake Morrow doubled home Jake Taylor count.

One way he did so is by his own defensive play on the mound. After he walking his final two batters in the fourth, runners were at the corners with one out and pinch-hitter Samuel Gonzales at bat.

Gonzales hit a line drive to the box that Brown couldn’t catch but did knock down, and then threw to catcher Jordan Drake to put out Jonathan Grishman trying to score from third. Brown then got Carmouche to foul out to Drake to retire the side.

Cowan pitched a scoreless fifth and Hoffler collected his second save of the season with two shutout frames, including striking out the Apaches in order in the seventh.

Hidekatsu Mitani (1-1) pitched a strong game in defeat, allowing only five hits in five innings and striking out five in 5 1/3. He walked two batters, but none before the sixth, when he was relieved by Fumitaka Sakaguchi.

PERICOS 6 - TEJANOS 0

Rene Solis scattered seven hits through 6 2/3 innings, walked none, and struck out 10 to give the Pericos a 6-0 victory against the Tejanos.

Though not throwing particularly hard, Solis (2-0) had his breaking ball moving throughout the game before being relieved with two out in the bottom of the seventh and final inning with two out and no runners aboard.

Will Chapman put the Pericos (4-3) on top to stay in the top of the first inning off Jamie Perez (1-1) when he collected the fourth hit of the inning to drive in Thomas Shull. Undre Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Pericos a 2-0 lead.

In the third, David Peterson’s two out line drive double inside the left field line scored three runs to effectively put the game away for the Pericos.

It was the first of two doubles for Peterson, who also collected one off Billy Pullia in the sixth and scored on a wild pitch and RBI ground out from Andrew Mulato.

Peterson, who did not have a hit in 23 at bats in the 2014 TWL season, is now hitting .375. He credits the work done with TWL hitting coach Ozzie Canseco for his dramatic improvement.

Perez allowed six hits and five runs, all earned, in his five inning start. He gave up two walks and struck out six.

ALAMOS 16 - CAPITALS 6

Shin Yokota and Rob Perrin each had three hits while Charles Shapiro, Ben Boykin, and Dr. Conrad Woolsey collected two in a 15 hit attack as the Alamos stayed in first place with a lopsided victory against the Capitals (3-4).

The game was a competitive 3-2 battle through three innings before the Alamos (4-2-1) broke through with six runs in the top of the fourth off Vance Keller. Keller (0-2) allowed 12 hits and 13 runs, 12 earned, in a five inning start, striking out two and walking four.

Gilbert Barrera (1-1) earned the victory by allowing four runs, three earned, in five innings, surrendering six hits and four walks while fanning four.

Perrin’s line included two doubles and three runs scored, as did Boykin’s. Described as a good line drive hitter by Alamos manager Mike Shapiro, Boykin, a catcher who played at College of Charleston for his final two seasons, is now hitting .429. He also drove in three runs.

Will Wurth led all hitters in the game with four RBIs while going 3 for 3 in a losing cause to raise his average to .313.

Cam Margaris threw a perfect seventh inning in relief for the Alamos, striking out a single batter.

NOTES- The remainder of the regular season schedule will have games at the Missions Academy start at 11 a.m. and those at Nelson Wolff Stadium start at 2 p.m. Central Standard Time.

This was done to insure a dry field absent of morning dew for batting practice.