Diablos Lose Gut-Wrencher, 5-4 In 11 Innings
June 5, 2012 - American Association (AA)
El Paso Diablos News Release
AMARILLO, TX- In a season filled with tough losses, Tuesday's might have been the hardest to stomach for the Diablos.
El Paso led the Amarillo Sox 4-1 heading into the ninth inning behind eight stellar frames from starter Freddy Flores, who had carved up the Sox on just 92 pitches heading into the final inning. But the Sox rallied for three runs to tie in the ninth and won in the eleventh on a walk off home run to hand El Paso its fifth straight defeat.
A triple and a single brought the Sox to within two and drove Flores from the game. With the score 4-2, reliever Reyes Dorado allowed an infield single and then threw a wild pitch that allowed Jake Opitz to score, cutting the lead to 4-3. Another infield single put runners on first and second with nobody out, and Marcel Prado was brought in.
Van Pope laid down a bunt against Prado, which the Diablos reliever bobbled, then threw wide to first base, allowing the tying run to score. After an intentional walk, the Diablos incredibly escaped the bases loaded, no out jam when Prado struck out Garrett Rau and induced an inning-ending double play ball from Harrion Kain.
Two innings later, however, the Sox ended the game on Alberto Espinosa's walk-off home run off Ronny Morla (0-2) to lead off the 11th. The loss is the Diablos' fifth in a row and fourth by one run in that span.
El Paso built a 4-0 lead on a pair of two-run home runs, Palmer Karr Jr.'s shot in the first and Brian Joynt's in the seventh. It was not enough, however, as the Diablos did not score for the rest of the game and saw their lead vanish amid a plethora of defensive miscues and lost chances.
Amarillo reliever Wes Littleton (1-1) picked up the win for the Sox with two scoreless innings in the extra frames.
The Diablos will try and salvage the final game of the series on Wednesday behind Reymond Cruz. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in Amarillo (6:05 p.m. in El Paso).
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