Diablos Come Back From Five-Run Hole, Win Third Straight

Published on June 27, 2012 under American Association (AA)
El Paso Diablos News Release


SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Diablos stretched their season-long winning streak to three behind an impressive comeback and assured themselves of their first series win with an 11-7 victory over the Sioux Falls Pheasants.

Sioux Falls pounded El Paso starter Juan Peralta at the outset, scoring five runs in the very first frame as the right-hander struggled for the second consecutive start.

But the Diablos bats struck back quickly and had erased the deficit by the fifth inning.

The comeback began in the second. Reid Fronk singled in Nelson Teilon to make it 5-1 before Scott Clement's first home run of the year, a three-run blast, pulled the Diablos to within one.

Peralta would surrender two more runs in the second before throwing three scoreless innings to complete his outing. With the score 7-4 into the fifth, Brian Joynt stepped up with two men on and crushed a game-tying, three-run home run off Pheasants starter Mitchell Clegg over the left field wall to knot the ledger at seven. The long ball was Joynt's fourth of the season.

Both bullpens threw up a pair of scoreless innings before the Diablos took the lead for good in the eighth. Mitch Einertson singled to start the rally, and eventually moved to third as El Paso loaded the bases for Reid Fronk. Before Fronk could get a swing off, reliever Jack Van Leur uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Einertson and putting the Diablos in front 8-7.

Fronk then ended a 10-pitch at-bat by doubling to right-center, scoring two more runs and giving the Diablos a three-run cushion. El Paso would add one more insurance run before Marcel Prado pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

Again, the Diablos bullpen pitched above standard, as Ronny Morla, Drew Graham, Kyle Cremers and Prado escaped several tight jams to keep the game scoreless in the middle innings. Graham (1-0) pitched out of a scary seventh to earn the victory, while Pheasants reliever Thomas Heithoff (1-1) was hit with the loss.

The Diablos, now 10-27 in 2012, will go for their first sweep of the year behind Edgar Garcia. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. (MST).



American Association Stories from June 27, 2012


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