Diablos Win Again

Luis Chirinos pitched seven superb innings and Daniel Nelson's three-run triple broke open a close game in the sixth inning as the Diablos rolled to their third straight victory, a 5-2 decision over the division rival Laredo Lemurs.

Chirinos (3-0) won his third straight start since being instated as part of the team's starting rotation, allowing zero earned runs and striking out a team season-high nine batters, surrendering just five hits.

The Diablos fell behind early, however, when Nelson's throwing error allowed Palmer Karr Jr. to reach second base and John Allen proceeded to knock Karr in with an RBI single. The Lemurs handed El Paso a run right back two innings later, making three errors in the third and allowing the Diablos to tie the game 1-1.

It remained that way into the sixth, when Laredo starter Matt Way (7-6), who threw all eight inning on the mound, walked Zane Chavez with the bases loaded to force in a run and give the Diablos a 2-1 lead. Nelson followed that up with a bases-clearing drive into the right center field gap to push the advantage to 5-1.

Tim Adleman, Steven Evarts, and Marcel Prado finished the rest of the game, with Prado earning his 12th saves and second in two nights.

The Diablos (35-38) will go for the sweep of the Lemurs on Thursday.