El Paso Rides Goocher\'s Arm For 6-0 Win
August 26, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Arkansas Diamonds News Release
Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR - LHP Clint Goocher (6-8) tossed eight shutout innings to lead the El Paso Diablos (22-36, 46-81) to a 6-0 blanking of the Arkansas Travelers (23-37, 56-73). Goocher became the second consecutive El Paso lefty to silence the Travs bats after LHP Matt Chico allowed only five hits over 7.1 innings on Wednesday. Arkansas LHP Corey Lee (2-5) tossed a strong seven inning performance, but was saddled with the loss due to a punchless offense. The Diablos put the game away with five runs in the last two innings against Travs relievers. The Diablos have won just four of their last 14 games with all those wins coming against the Travelers. El Paso's shutout is their league-low fourth of the season, while the Travs were blanked for the fifth time.
With one out in the top of the first inning, Lee got Todd West to chase a high fastball for strike three. However, the pitch was a bit too high and C Brent Del Chiaro dropped it allowing West on base. West stole second base and then scored when Carlos Quentin singled to center with two outs.
Lee would go on to retire the next 11 batters he faced, while Goocher was throwing zeroes at Travs batters. Arkansas RF Cristian Guerrero hit a liner off the right field fence for a single that started the second inning, but DH Jeff Mathis lined to short and Guerrero was doubled off.
Travs 3B Casey Smith reached in the third inning with a two-out single, but was thrown at on an attempted steal. Goocher then retired seven straight batters.
The Travs had a chance in the sixth inning to tie the game after 2B Victor Gutierrez doubled with one out, but Goocher set down Smith and SS Alberto Callaspo to keep El Paso in front 1-0.
Lee left after the seventh inning and RHP Cam Esslinger relieved. Esslinger walked two batters and hit another with one out to load the bases. El Paso SS Keoni DeRenne lofted a sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-0 lead. Conor Jackson singled another run in for a 3-0 lead.
Travs LHP Jonathon Rouwenhorst got two outs in the ninth inning, but then walked two batters and allowed three runs on two hits.
Time of game was 2:42 and the paid attendance was 2,179.
The third game of this series is set for Friday night. El Paso has RHP Beltran Perez (2-5, 4.30 ERA) pitching. The Travelers do not have a pitcher announced. The first pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
Please call (501) 664-1555 or visit www.travs.com for game information.
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