First-place Fuego rout Pupfish

The Santa Fe Fuego got back on the winning track Monday night by opening a three-game series at White Sands with an 18-3 demolition of the Pupfish at Griggs Park in Alamogordo.

The Fuego (14-4) had their nine-game winning streak snapped Sunday night by White Sands but left no doubt about Monday’s game. They led 7-0 in the second inning and put the game away by scoring the final 11 runs over their last five at-bats.

Santa Fe had 17 hits as the top three hitters in the lineup combined to go 9-for-15 with eight runs scored and seven RBI. The trio added four walks, meaning they reached base in 13 of 20 plate appearances.

That total included an epic 19-pitch at bat by Matt Haskins in the second inning in which he eventually delivered a two-run double to start a four-run inning.

Nick Gotta, Caleb Baker and Willie Doll each had three RBI while Baker had four hits to raise his batting average to .369.

Starting pitcher Matt Elko (2-0) had his best outing of the season, tossing seven innings and striking out a career-high eight. He allowed 10 hits and three runs. In two previous outings he had lasted just 7⅔ innings with five strikeouts and 13 runs allowed.

The Fuego extended their lead in the Pecos League’s Mountain Division to two full games over Alpine, which lost its third straight game on Monday. Santa Fe will play two more games at White Sands before opening a four-game homestand Thursday against Trinidad.