Diablos edge Sports 3-2 in 10 innings

Published on July 6, 2008 under American Association (AA)
El Paso Diablos News Release


Stantrel Smith scored the game winning run on a throwing error by Tommy Bryant in the tenth inning, as the El Paso Diablos slipped past the Shreveport Sports 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Josh Neitz and Daniel Welch pitched effectively in the first three innings. Both tossed three shut-out frames, Welch yielded three hits while Neitz allowed two.

The Diablos took the first lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bryon Smith lifted a solo-home run to right field and Willie James had a run-scoring single, giving the Diablos a 2-0 advantage.

Josh Neitz cruised in the middle innings. Neitz retired 11 batters in a row from the third through the sixth.

The Sports threatened in the top of the seventh inning. The Sports picked up four singles in a row against Josh Neitz scoring one run. Brandon Hudson came into the game with no outs and the bases loaded. Hudson helped the Diablos escape the jam by inducing Tommy Bryant into a pop-out behind the plate and then forced Richard Quihuis-Bell into an inning ending double play! Shreveport trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Shreveport tied the game up in the top of the ninth inning. Justin Humphries lined a one-out double down the left-field line. Chris Smith came into pinch-run for Humphries. The next batter Terrance McClain skied a fly-ball down the right field line which Stantrel Smith dropped, allowing Smith to move to third and McClain to second on the error. Tommy Bryant came through with a run-scoring single, knotting up the game at two.

The Diablos won the game in the bottom of the tenth inning. With one out Stantrel Smith reached first base on a throwing error by the short stop Wade Robinson. Smith stole second base to get into scoring position. Matt Clayman then walked Willie James putting two runners aboard. Bryan Cooksey stepped up the plate, and on the first pitch Smith and James took off on a double steal. The catcher Tommy Bryant over threw the ball into center field allowing Smith to score the game winning run from third!

Josh Neitz threw six innings allowing one earned run off of eight hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Daniel Welch threw eight innings allowing two earned runs off of five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Mike Cervera (2-0) is the winner. He threw two innings allowing one run off of two hits with no walks and one strikeout.

Matt Clayman (2-6) picks up the loss. He threw a third of an inning allowing one run off of one walk with one strikeout.

The Diablos are now 3-0 in extra innings games this season.

The Diablos will open up a four-game series against the first-place Grand Prairie Air Hogs on Monday night at 7:05 PM. Jusef Frias will throw against Matt Righter for the Hogs. The game will be broadcast live on www.diablos.com with Jon Barr on the call.

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American Association Stories from July 6, 2008


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