The Diablos exacted revenge on the Pelicans Friday night. A week after the Pelicans swept the Diablos in El Paso, the Diablos came back to earn a 4-3 win at Pelican Park. The Pelicans led 2-0 until the top of the sixth, when El Paso tagged Kevin Cooper for three runs.
Pensacola scored initially in the bottom of the first. Antoin Gray hit an infield single, but the throw from the third baseman was off-target and Gray advanced to second base. Chase Burch followed by hitting a single to drive him in.
The Pelicans added another run in the fourth inning. Chase Burch doubled to lead off, and Marshall McDougall hit next, knocking him in with a single. Pelicans 2, Diablos 0.
El Paso rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth, starting with an Hector Bernal single. David Washington reached on a fielder’s choice and Bernal was safe at second. Arnoldo Ponce hit Bernal in with a single, and Juan Camacho grounded out to the shortstop, but plated Washington. Jeff Vincent tripled with two outs to send Ponce home and give El Paso the lead.
The Pelicans rallied back to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Chase Burch singled, and so would the next two batters. With the bases loaded and no one out, Lou Palmisano reached on an error by the shortstop and Burch scored. However, the Pelicans missed an opportunity, grounding into a first-to-home double play and striking out to end the inning.
The Pelicans removed Kevin Cooper in the sixth inning before anyone was retired. He gave up three runs on four hits and two walks, striking out four. Ron Hill pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. Bubba Nelson started the top of the eighth inning by striking out the first two batters. However, Jonathon Reynoso reached on an error by the shortstop, stole second, and scored on a Juan Camacho base hit. The run would prove the difference as the Diablos won 4-3.
Bubba Nelson took the loss while Chris Luera earned the win. Mike Cervera earned his seventh save of the year.
Chase Burch and Marshall McDougall both went 3-4 with a RBI; one of Burch’s hits was a double. Francisco Leandro went 2-3 and Marcos Rodriguez finished the evening 2-4.
The Pelicans and Diablos face off again on Saturday for College Football Night at Pelican Park: fans attending the 6:05 game are encouraged to wear their favorite college team’s colors while rooting on the Pelicans. Following the game a fireworks display will light up the sky. Dane DeValk will take the ball against El Paso’s Justin Mallett.
