Fuego strand 11 in 15-9 loss to Roswell

Visiting Roswell pounded out 20 hits and got two home runs with five RBI from its leadoff hitter in a 15-9 victory over the Santa Fe Fuego in Pecos League action Thursday night at Fort Marcy Ballpark.

The loss was the third straight for Santa Fe (21-13), which also surrendered its lead in the Mountain Division. Alpine (21-12) now sits a half game in front of the Fuego and Roswell (22-14) and a full game in front of Trinidad (21-14).

The Invaders never trailed, roughing up Santa Fe starting pitcher Louis Ortega to the tune of 10 earned runs on 14 hits in the first three innings. Ortega (4-2) saw his ERA climb nearly three full runs with the loss, his second in the last three starts.

Roswell leadoff man Joey Miller went deep twice and finished 3-for-5 with four runs scored and five driven in. Cleanup hitter Kaohu Gaspar had five hits as the top four hitters in the Invaders’ order combined for 13 hits, nine RBI and eight runs scored.

Nick Gotta, Eric Maria and Aaron Stubblefield all went deep for Santa Fe. Maria had two home runs and drove in a teamhigh four while Stubblefield’s 3-for-4 night raised his batting average to .400.

The Fuego trimmed a seven-run deficit in the third inning to 10-7 in the middle innings, but Roswell put the game away by adding four more runs in the sixth. All of them were charged to Fuego reliever Kael Jones. Santa Fe had 18 hits on the night but stranded 11 runners. The teams resume their four-game series Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Fort Marcy.