Diablos win first half finale 5-4 in 11 innings over Fort Worth

July 1, 2007 - American Association (AA)
El Paso Diablos News Release


Kory Drew's walk-off sacrifice fly propelled the Diablos to a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over Fort Worth in the first half's final game.

The Fort Worth Cats jumped out to the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. Carlos Adolfo hammered a one-out double to the left center field gap. Trey Roberson then singled Adolfo home with a base hit up the middle.

Fort Worth built a four run lead in the top of the fourth. The Cats plated those four runners on three base hits. Chuck Carter had an RBI single in the frame.

Nick Martin had retired 16 consecutive Diablos to start the game. El Paso broke up Martin's perfect game bid on a Casey Clary single in the bottom of the sixth. Joel Izquierdo followed with an infield single of his own putting two runners on base with only one out. However, Martin settled down and retired Kory Drew and Evan Conley to end the threat.

The Diablos broke up Martin's shut-out bid with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Jordan Belcher picked up a two out single. Matt Kent rocketed a double to deep to right scoring Belcher and cutting the deficit to 4-1. Nick Martin induced Logan Wood into a ground out to finish the inning without further damage.

El Paso tied up the game in the bottom of the eighth. Casey Clary led things off with a mammoth double to left field. Joel Izquierdo then flared a shot into shallow right field which Roberson dropped allowing Clary to move over to third and allowed Izquierdo to reach safely. Kory Drew then picked up an RBI double down the third base line which plated Clary. Evan Conley would score Joel Izquierdo on a ground out cutting the lead to just one. With Drew on third base, Jorge Alvarez lifted a fly ball into mid-center which Alan Moye misplayed allowing Drew to score which tied up the game. Danny Valentin was summoned to get the final out of the inning and he induced Belcher into a fly out to avoid any further trouble.

The Fort Worth Cats threatened in the top of the eleventh inning. Dallas Strankman retired the first two Cats before Jordan Foster belted a double to left center. Marc Mirrizi would then walk, putting two aboard. During the next at-bat, Matt Kent fired a snap throw to first base which caught Mirizzi in a run down. Mirizzi was tagged out at second base by Joel Izquierdo right before Jordan Foster crossed the plate which nullified the go-ahead run.

El Paso would capitalize in the bottom of the eleventh. Logan Wood started off the inning with a towering triple to deep right field. Danny Valentin would then intentionally walk Casey Clary and pinch-hitter Walter Olmstead to face Kory Drew. The native of Pleasant Grove, UT would come through as he blooped a fly ball into shallow right. Roberson made the catch, but his throw home was late as Logan Wood crossed the plate for the victory.

El Paso is now 6-3 in extra innings games this year. That was El Paso's second extra inning win over Fort Worth in three nights.

Josh Neitz threw six innings allowing three earned runs off of 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Julio Freites and Dustin Cameron combined for four scoreless innings of relief. Dallas Strankman (2-0) picks up his second victory overall and of the series with a scoreless 11th inning.

Nick Martin threw seven innings allowing two earned runs off no walks with six strikeouts.

Danny Valentin (3-2) takes the loss as he threw three full yielding one earned run off three hits with three walks and one strikeout.

The Diablos will take Monday off before opening up a three game series with Shreveport on Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Robbie Wachman will get the start for El Paso. The game will be broadcast live at www.diablos.com with Jon Barr on the call.



American Association Stories from July 1, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central