By: Alex Morales
Kansas City, KS - The Diablos hit the road for a seven game road trip and their first stop was in Kansas City as they took on the T-Bones for the first time since the opening series of the season. The battery for the T-Bones was too much for the Diablos as they fell 6-2 Thursday night at Community America Ballpark.
El Paso (13-38) have now lost four games in-a-row and they have now fallen to 1-4 on they year against Kansas City. In the first series of the season, the Diablos dropped three of four against the T-Bones at Cohen Stadium and tonight was much of the same from El Paso.
Kansas City (22-29) gave up the lead to he Diablos in the top of the second inning when left fielder Chad Gabriel took starting pitcher Reid Santos deep to left field to put El Paso on top 1-0.
After the second inning, the Diablos could not touch Santos as he did not give up a run until the top of the eighth where he was chased after giving up three straight hits that lead to a run. Santos (6-3) pitched seven and one-third innings allowing two runs all earned on seven hits. He walked three and had six strikeouts in the win.
For the Diablos, they received a good start from Reymond Cruz as he was coming off his first win of the season on July 2 when he beat Lincoln 6-2 at Cohen Stadium. Cruz cruised through the first three innings giving up only two hits before he finding trouble in the fourth inning.
Cruz gave up three hits, walked a batter, and hit a batter which lead to three runs in the inning. Catcher Johnny Bowden brought in two runs with his second hit of the night off Cruz. Bowden finished the night going 3-4 with one double and three RBI.
Cruz did not allow a run after the fourth inning and was taken out after walking shortstop Jimmy Mojica in the top of the seventh with one out in the frame. Cruz pitched six and one-third innings giving up four runs all earned on six hits. He walked three and struck out seven in the loss.
Tomorrow is game two of a four-game series between the two teams. El Paso will send pitcher Adam Rowe (1-4 8.60 ERA) to the mound to try and stop their losing skid at four games. The game is set for 7:05 pm at Community America Ball Park.