Diablos sweep homestand with thrilling 13-12 victory over Coastal Bend

Published on May 20, 2007 under American Association (AA)
El Paso Diablos News Release


The El Paso Diablos used a sacrifice fly off the bat of new catcher Casey Clary to sweep the Coastal Bend Aviators in an extra innings thriller 13-12 in 11 innings from Cohen Stadium on Sunday night.

The El Paso Diablos had an explosive start to the game. In the bottom of the first, El Paso torched Pedro Flores for five runs on seven hits. The Diablos had three doubles in the inning, including a two-RBI double from Juan Camacho.

The Coastal Bend Aviators bounced right back in the top of the third inning. They scored three runs, with five base hits, including a two-RBI single from James Lofton setting the score at 5-4.

The Aviators continued their hot hitting with a big three run fifth inning. Juan Figueroa picked up a pair of RBI's with a single. The Aviators took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

El Paso answered right back in the bottom of the fifth. Logan Wood belted home Walter Olmstead with a single cutting the deficit to 7-6.

Coastal Bend went on the offensive again, with a three run sixth. J.D Foust picked up a pair of RBI's with a double off the left field wall, and the Aviators took a 10-6 lead.

The El Paso Diablos refused to surrender and stormed right back in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Walter Olmstead drove home two runs with a single. Juan Camacho was later plated on a ground out, and Evan Conley poked home Walter Olmstead with a single, tieing the game at 10-10 heading into the seventh.

Dustin Cameron came into the contest in the bottom of the seventh, and was faced with a bases loaded situation with only one out. However, he induced J.D Foust into a 6-4-3 double play, and put out the fire.

Cameron found himself in the same predicament in the bottom of the eighth inning. He had the bases loaded with just one out, but forced Phillp Grau into a double play ground out ending any damage in the eighth.

The contest was tied heading into the top of the tenth inning. J.D Foust led off the tenth with a single to left. Juan Figueroa then moved Foust to third base with a single of his own. Bryon Smith scored Foust with a sharp single, giving Coastal Bend the 11-10 edge. Ned Darley was then summoned from the bullpen, and forced Bryon Smith into a 6-4-3 double play to get two outs. After walking Phillip Grau, Darley ended the inning by striking out Phillip Grau looking.

The Diablos showed their resilience, by piecing together a run in the bottom of the tenth. Jorge Alvarez led off the inning with a single off of Aviator closer Tom Atlee. Juan Camacho then grounded into a fielder's choice and the second baseman James Lofton threw wide of the bag to Foust at second, allowing Alvarez to move over on the error. Walter Olmstead then ripped a double to left field, tieing the game at 11, and moving pinch runner Joel Izquierdo to third base. Atlee then intentionally walked Matt Kent, and brought up Logan Wood with a chance to win it. Tom Atlee settled down, and forced Wood into a pop out behind the plate. Atlee then faced Evan Conley and won the battle with an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to send the game into the 11th.

The Aviators continued their hot extra inning hitting into the 11th. Bryan Fryer walked to lead off the frame and stole second base to get into scoring position. With one out, J.D Foust singled and brought up Juan Figueroa with a chance to give Coastal Bend the lead. Figueroa came through, as he belted a single, which plated Fryer giving them a 12-11 lead heading into the bottom of the 11th.

The Diablos had one last comeback in them. Starting pitcher Bryan Heaston came out to pitch the bottom of the 11th and he forced Jordan Belcher into a quick 1-3 ground out. Albenis Machado followed and drew a big walk. Kory Drew advanced Machado to second base as he stroked a double to right field. Jorge Alvarez then tied up the contest with a single of his own that plated Albenis Machado from second base. Kory Drew moved to third base on the play. Casey Clary was brought up in a clutch spot, in his first at bat with El Paso. However, Clary came through as he lifted a fly ball into short left field which Phillip Grau caught. Kory Drew was off to the plate from third base, and the throw to the dish from Grau was over the head of the catcher Morales and it enabled Drew to score as El Paso won in epic fashion.

Ned Darley gets the win (2-0) as he threw two innings of one run baseball, with two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

Andy Torres the starter threw five and a third innings allowing eight earned runs on 14 hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Pedro Flores the starter for the Aviators threw four innings and yielded six runs on 12 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Dustin Cameron threw two and two thirds strong innings of relief for the Diablos as he allowed just one run over five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Bryan Heaston (0-2) picks up the loss for Coastal Bend, he lasted just two thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits.

The contest lasted 4:07 and was the second extra innings victory for El Paso this season. The teams combined for 42 hits, 20 for El Paso and 22 for Coastal Bend. The Diablos have won six games in a row for the first time in their American Association existence.

El Paso Diablos will take their first full off-day of the season on Monday before returning to the road and opening up a three game series at Pensacola on Tuesday night at 5:35 PM (MST). The game will be broadcast at www.diablos.com and 1380 ESPN Radio.

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American Association Stories from May 20, 2007


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