By: Alex Morales
El Paso, TX-- After blowing the lead in the top of the ninth to Amarillo last night, both El Paso and Amarillo came into the rubber match looking for a win. The Diablos stormed out to a 6-0 lead, but saw that lead evaporate in the fifth before ultimately winning thanks to a go-ahead two-run RBI single by Martin Parra to give the Diablos a 10-7 win Wednesday night at Cohen Stadium.
The Diablos (33-56) sent starting pitcher Luis Montano out to the mound and he breezed through the first two innings allowing only one hit. El Paso in the bottom of the second received an RBI double from catcher Alberto Espinosa and then an RBI groundout from Parra to make the score 2-0 after two.
Montano cruised through the third as he retired the side and received more help from his offense in the bottom half of the frame. Right fielder Nelson Teilon hit his fourth home run of the season which was a two-run home run off Amarillo’s starting pitcher Travis Lawler to make the score 4-0.
El Paso was not done in the inning as two three batters later, Espinosa drilled his seventh home run of the season off Lawler which was also a two-run dinger to make the score 6-0 after three innings of play.
Amarillo (39-51) could not touch Montano in the fourth inning as once again they were retired without getting a run in the frame. Lawler was taken out in the bottom half of the fourth and reliever Sean Keeler did not allow a run in the inning.
The Sox came out swinging in the top of the fifth as they scored six runs in the inning off of Montano. In the frame they received six hits including back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning. They also received help when Espinosa made a costly throwing error in the inning that lead to two runs.
After the damage was done, Montano left after four and a third allowing six runs, five earned off of eight hits. He issued one walk and struck out three in his outing and received a no decision in his effort.
Reliever Adam Rowe pitched out of the jam in the fifth and in the bottom half of the frame and then retired the Sox in order in the top of the sixth inning.
In the bottom half of the frame, Parra came up to bat with runners on second and third with two outs and delivered with a two-run RBI single to put the Diablos up 8-6 and they never looked back.
Rowe gave up a run in the top of the seventh to make it 8-7 in the seventh inning. He was pulled as reliever Kyle Cremers came in and pitched effectively for two innings as Amarillo was unable to produce any more runs off of Cremers.
The Diablos added two more insurance runs to make it 10-7 as reliever Reyes Dorado came onto pitch in the top of the ninth to close the game out and earn his fifth save of the season.
Rowe was rewarded with the win to improve to 3-5 on the year. Keeler received the loss in the game. It was his first loss on the season.
El Paso is off on Thursday, but will resume the season on Friday as they welcome in the Grand Prairie who are the South Division Champions. Game time is set for 7:05 pm at Cohen Stadium.