August 21, 2010

El Paso, TX – Jeff Hulett delivered a win for El Paso but also a tough loss for Wichita as his walk off hit gave the Diablos a 6-5 win at Cohen Stadium on Saturday night.  With the loss Wichita loses out on a chance to take over first place in the north division.  It is the third walk off victory for El Paso this season.

Wichita took the lead in the first inning for the second straight night.  The Diablos took their first lead in the series in the third inning when they scored four runs.  Rico Santana put the Diablos on the board with a run scoring single.  The next batter was Bryon Smith and he capped off the four run inning with a three run home run.  The Wingnuts added a run in the sixth inning but the Diablos matched that run on an Adam Deleo bases loaded fielder’s choice.  Wichita added one more run in the seventh inning.

Wichita came back to tie the game in the ninth inning.  Jesse Estrada came on to try and close it out but three hits and two walks ended up tying the game.  El Paso came back in the last of the ninth inning to win it.  Ponce started the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Adam Deleo.  After a fly out the Wingnuts brought on newly acquired Dustin Cameron to get the final out of the inning but Jeff Hulett had other ideas.  He singled softly down the left field line scoring Ponce to give El Paso the win.

Wichita more than doubled up the Diablos in the hit column.  The Wingnuts had 15 hits to El Paso’s seven.  Four of the seven hits came from two players.  Bryon Smith went 2-4 with his fourth home run of the season and three RBI.  Arnoldo Ponce went 2-3 with a walk while scoring the game winning run.

For his second straight start Dustin Birosak was very good for the Diablos but again earned a no decision.  He got one out in the sixth inning before departing.  He allowed just two runs on nine hits.  His counterpart from Wichita, Sean Teague, pitched the same amount of innings but allowed five runs on six hits.  The win went to Jesse Estrada who blew the save up picks up his first win in a Diablos’ uniform.

El Paso can go for the series win on Sunday night Shaun Ellis (8-3, 4.96) is the man to make the start for El Paso.  He will be dealing against Wichita’s lefthander Kevin Angelle (1-1, 5.40).  First pitch is slated for 7:05.  It is Quartermania and the Diablos offer 25 cent hot dogs and ice cream sandwiches.  Fans can listen in online at www.diablos.com.

Link to Boxscore http://am-association.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=9561