 July 14, 2004 - Sergio Lizarraga did it all Tuesday night. He tossed his second straight complete game, and added two hits and two RBI’s on offense to lead the Diablos to a 12-0 whitewash of Round Rock at Cohen Stadium. El Paso avoided the series sweep at the hands of the Express with the win, and improved to 7-13 in the second half. Round Rock, which had won five in a row, fell to 10-10 with Tuesday’s setback.
Lizarraga (2-7), who suffered a complete-game 1-0 loss at San Antonio his last time out, was brilliant again on Tuesday. The soon-to-be 23-year-old Mexican native coughed up singles to Willy Taveras and Mike Rodriguez to open the top of the first, but he got tough at that point and took care of the next three batters to escape the inning without giving up a run. Including those three outs, Lizarraga chopped down 16 consecutive Round Rock hitters, a streak that ended when Lizarraga nicked Taveras with a pitch with one out in the sixth.
Lizarraga’s pitching line was exceptional…five hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts, with one hit batter. His second complete game was just the third for the Diablos all season, and also marked El Paso’s third shutout win this year. The outing was Lizarraga’s sixth consecutive quality start, dating back to June 13th. In those six games, “Lizzy” is 2-2 with a 1.84 ERA.
Lizarraga was also part of a balanced offensive attack that saw both the top third and the bottom third of the order enjoy hitting success. Lizarraga’s sacrifice bunt in the third to move Todd West to second was instrumental in the Diablos grabbing a 1-0 lead. His single in the sixth came in the middle of a three-run rally that made it a 7-0 game. And in the eighth, Lizarraga’s two-run single to left-center capped a four-run outburst that finalized the scoring at 12-0.
Center fielder Marland Williams and first baseman Jesus Cota both contributed four hits to El Paso’s 19-hit attack. Williams went 4-for-6 with a triple, two runs, three RBI’s and a stolen base, while Cota was 4-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Helping out Lizarraga at the bottom of the order were catcher Mike DiRosa (2-for-4, two doubles, one walk, four runs) and the second baseman West (2-for-3, one walk, sacrifice fly, one run, two RBI’s).
Round Rock starter Wandy Rodriguez (9-3) was saddled with the loss, charged with four runs on nine hits over five innings. Two Express relievers were mauled for eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits over the final three innings.
The Midland RockHounds roll into town to open another four-game series Wednesday night at Cohen. Midland is expected to start Shane Bazzell (7-1), while Phil Stockman is slated to make his first appearance for El Paso. Stockman, who won 11 games for the Diablos last season, is coming off the disabled list in Tucson, where in 12 starts this year he posted a record of 3-2. The Diablos have not yet identified the player to be moved in order to create the roster spot for Stockman.
And, since it’s Wednesday, it’s another Price’s Select Ice Cream Night at the park. For more information on Diablos’ tickets and promotions, call 755-2000.
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