Fuego pitchers rocked in season-opening loss

It wasn’t quite the season opener Santa Fe was hoping for.

Three Fuego pitchers combined to surrender 16 hits and eight walks in a 15-10 loss Wednesday night in Trinidad, Colo. It was the Pecos League regular season opener for both clubs, and the managerial debut for Santa Fe skipper Tom Fitzgerald.

Anthony Williams started on the mound for the Fuego (0-1). After working a scoreless first, he got his club on the board with a two-run homer in the top of the second.

The momentum didn’t last long.

Trinidad scored four times in each of the next two frames, starting with a solo home run by Jake Urena to kickstart the Triggers’ offense. An RBI triple moments later by Anton Wheeler broke a 2-all tie to provide a lead Trinidad would never relinquish.

Williams (0-1) lasted just three innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits and two walks. He did, however, go 2-for-2 at the dish.

Demetrius Rodriguez had four hits for Santa Fe. His night included an RBI single in the fourth, a fielder’s choice to bring home another run in the fifth and a solo home run in the top of the ninth.

Ben Osborne also had three hits and scored a run for Santa Fe. All but two Fuego starters had at least one hit.

Trinidad scored in five of its eight innings, opening an 8-2 lead early only to see Santa Fe trim it to 8-6 after five innings. That all changed in the sixth when the Triggers’ Peter Pena launched a three-run home run off Fuego reliever Alexander Williams. Williams had worked two scoreless innings before Pena’s homer broke the game open.

Brian Reninbrough hit a three-run home run of his own in Santa Fe’s half of the seventh, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Fuego pitching staff couldn’t stop Trinidad’s offense.

The teams will meet again Thursday at Trinidad’s Central Park, then head to Santa Fe on Friday and Saturday for the Fuego opening homestand.