By: Alex Morales
Fort Worth, TX--- The El Paso Diablos looked to avoid getting swept for the second consecutive series as they sent Reymond Cruz to the mound and as close as the first two games of this series were this one was no different as the Diablos clung on for a 2-0 victory Saturday night at LaGrave Field.
The Diablos (21-52) received a stellar start from Cruz as he was terrific in the entire game as the most trouble he faced was in the first inning. Cruz was able to get out of a bases loaded jam and after that point he cruised until the bottom of the eighth inning.
Fort Worth (33-39) was neck with Cruz from the mound as starting pitcher Daniel Schmidt pitched four innings of one-hit baseball. He did not come out for the top of the fifth as the Cats decided to go with Chris Holguin.
Holguin (0-2) did not fare well in his first inning of work for Fort Worth as he allowed the Diablos to get on the board in the frame. Brian Joynt hit a two-out one run double in the inning that brought home left fielder to make the game 1-0 after five. He was charged with the loss.
Cruz breezed through the Cats’ batters until the bottom of the eighth when he was unable to get through the inning. After allowing two runners to reach base, Diablos manager Jorge Alvarez went with lefty Adam Rowe to face the lefty Trent Lockwood.
Rowe retired Lockwood as he was able to get him to fly out to left field. Rowe was taken out after doing his job successfully and was replaced by Scott Hodsdon. Hodsdon pitched out of the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
Cruz (2-6) earned the victory in the game as he pitched seven and one-third innings of work as he allowed no runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out four for the win in the game. It was his first victory since July 2 against Lincoln.
The Diablos are off Sunday and Monday before beginning a three-game series against Shreveport-Bossier on Tuesday. Game time is set for 7:05 pm at Cohen Stadium and it is also Taco Night at the park. Fans are able to get two tacos and a Bud Light Lime for only three dollars the entire night.