Fuego falter in 16-15 loss

The Santa Fe Fuego blew a nine-run lead, rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, then faltered in extra innings as visiting White Sands escaped Fort Marcy Ballpark with a 16-15 win on Friday night.

The Fuego (23-19) built an 11-2 lead after three frames before the Pupfish (9-35) stormed back with 11 unanswered runs that included an eight-run seventh. The scored three runs in the top of the 10th, then withstood one last Fuego comeback as Santa Fe stranded the potential tying run on base.

Five Fuego pitchers combined to walk 10 batters and give up 14 hits in what amounted to a devastating loss in the top-heavy Mountain Division of the Pecos League. Santa Fe has fallen four games behind first place Roswell. Alpine sits in second, followed by Trinidad.

Fuego starting pitcher Zach Carter started off strong, pitching into the seventh behind the commanding lead his offense built for him. He exited having given up eight runs on eight hits and five walks.

The Fuego had 19 hits in the game but left the bases loaded after tying it at 13-13 with one out in the bottom of the ninth. After Caleb Baker cut the Pupfish lead to 16-15 in the bottom of the 10th, A.J. Flores delivered a one-out single before White Sands reliever Israel Elizondo struck out Aaron Stubblefield and Matt Haskins to end the game.

Haskins and Erick Magee each struck out three times for the Fuego. The two are ranked 1-2 in the Pecos League in strikeouts, combining for 116 between them this season.

Flores went 4-for-5 for the Fuego while Baker and Nick Gotta each had three hits. Both players are batting over .400 to lead the team.

The third game of the scheduled four-game series between Santa Fe and White Sands will be Saturday at Fort Marcy. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.