EL PASO, TX- After having a rally fall just short the previous evening, the Diablos made sure to complete the comeback on Saturday, scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Lincoln Saltdogs 9-8.
Maikol Gonzalez's bases loaded single proved to be the game-winner, scoring Scott Clement and sending the Diablos and 3,017 fans at Cohen Stadium into a frenzy.
Until that point, it looked to be another night of frustration for El Paso. The Saltdogs erased a 2-1 deficit with five runs in the top of the sixth to take a four run lead. Although the Diablos scored one run in the bottom half, they wouldn't get any closer until the final frame.
Closer P.J. Zocchi entered the game for Lincoln but couldn't put his power over the plate with his team up 8-3. Three walks loaded the bases with one out for Jermy Acey, whose two-run double made the score 8-5. Patrick Arlis followed with a pinch hit two-run single off Conor Spink (0-1) to bring the Diablos to within one.
Scott Clement singled, followed by J.J. Muse who drew a walk after working the count full. Jordan Marks' subsequent single tied the game before Gonzalez won it the very next at-bat.
Marcel Prado (2-1) earned the win in relief for the Diablos, who move to 23-35 with the series finale scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Link to Box Score
GAME DATE: 07/21/2012
Lincoln Saltdogs 8 AT El Paso Diablos 9
YTD YTD
Lincoln AB R H BI AVG El Paso AB R H BI AVG
S.Smith CF 6 1 2 2 .222 M.Gonzalez SS 5 2 4 1 .345
J.Rohan DH 3 0 1 0 .313 R.Fronk 3B 4 1 1 1 .273
D.Espinosa 2B 5 0 1 0 .274 M.Einertson CF 5 0 0 0 .290
J.Alonso 1B 5 1 3 0 .318 W.Dotel RF 4 1 1 0 .395
S.Holdren LF 5 2 4 0 .304 J.Acey 1B 3 2 1 2 .216
M.Provencher 3B 5 1 2 1 .273 J.Cisneros DH 3 1 3 1 .297
A.Shah RF 4 2 3 0 .287 P.Arlis PH 1 0 1 2 .295
M.Chacoa SS 5 1 2 2 .333 S.Hodsdon PR 0 1 0 0 .200
A.Miller C 5 0 1 1 .240 S.Clement C 5 1 2 1 .277
J.Muse LF 4 0 0 0 .276
J.Marks 2B 5 0 2 1 .367
43 8 19 6 39 9 15 9
Lincoln 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 2 - 8 19 0
El Paso 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 6 - 9 15 1
2B--J.Alonso (13), M.Provencher (14), R.Fronk (12), J.Acey (1), J.Cisneros
(15). 3B--J.Cisneros (2). RBI--S.Smith 2 (4), M.Provencher (26), M.Chacoa
2 (3), A.Miller (18), M.Gonzalez (30), R.Fronk (27), J.Acey 2 (6),
J.Cisneros (29), P.Arlis 2 (28), S.Clement (14), J.Marks (13). HP--J.Rohan
(2). SB--S.Smith (5), M.Chacoa (1). CS--A.Miller (1), M.Gonzalez (8).
E--S.Clement (1).
LOB--Lincoln 12, El Paso 12. DP--M. Gonzalez(SS) - J. Marks(2B) - J.
Acey(1B), M. Gonzalez(SS) - F. Flores(P) - J. Acey(1B).
YTD
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lincoln
W.Mackey 6.2 9 3 3 3 3 0 4.35
P.Parise 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.97
P.Zocchi 0.1 1 4 4 3 1 0 7.15
C.Spink (L,0-1) 0.0 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.27
B.Cooney 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.74
8.1 15 9 9 7 4 0
El Paso
F.Flores 5.2 12 6 6 2 2 0 5.29
J.Harper 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.79
T.Wink 0.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00
R.Dorado 1.2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.86
M.Prado (W,2-1) 1.0 4 2 2 0 1 0 2.67
9 19 8 8 3 6 0
WP--J.Harper (2). HB--J.Harper (4). SO--S.Smith, D.Espinosa, M.Provencher
2, M.Chacoa, A.Miller, R.Fronk 2, M.Einertson 2. BB--J.Rohan 2, A.Shah,
M.Gonzalez, R.Fronk, W.Dotel, J.Acey 2, J.Cisneros, J.Muse. BF--W.Mackey 31
(266), P.Parise 5 (201), P.Zocchi 5 (111), C.Spink 3 (46), B.Cooney 2
(116), F.Flores 28 (300), J.Harper 3 (23), T.Wink 3 (3), R.Dorado 6 (126),
M.Prado 7 (138). P-S--W.Mackey 89-52, P.Parise 10-8, P.Zocchi 24-9, C.Spink
10-5, B.Cooney 8-4, F.Flores 101-63, J.Harper 12-7, T.Wink 11-5, R.Dorado
17-14, M.Prado 29-19.
T--3:28. A--3017
Weather: 90 degrees, cloudy
Umpires: Plate Ump - Sheldon Wheeler, Field Ump #1 - Chaz Scolaga, Field Ump #3 - Justin Post