by David Tesitor
TRINIDAD — The Trinidad Triggers are the hottest team in the northern division of the Pecos League with a record of 18-9 through Tuesday. The Tucson Saguaros lead their Southern Division with a 22-6 record. The two teams will meet in Tucson next weekend. Trinidad is in the middle of a nine game home stand, their longest of the season.
Trinidad came out firing with both guns last Friday at Central Park but let their lead slip as they fell to the Alpine Cowboys in a last inning come-from-behind victory, 12-7. Leading by a single run going into the top of the ninth, Trinidad gave up the tying run off a bad call. A grand slam homer gave the Alpine Cowboys the lead which would not be relinquished. Seth McLemore racked up five RBIs on two hits for the Cowboys. He singled in the sixth inning. Trevor Sealey racked up five RBIs on two hits for the Triggers as he homered in the second inning and doubled in the third inning.
Adam Ogburn improved to 2-0 on the year by picking up the win for the Alpine Cowboys. He struck out one, walked none and surrendered one hit. Toby Eigner (2-1) took the loss for the Triggers. He allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning, walked two and struck out one.
On Saturday, the Triggers found relief with a 9-6 victory in a game that looked like it belonged to the Cowboys as Alpine scored first and had four hits in the first inning. With men on first and second, and one out, Phildrick Llewellyn hit into a double play. The runner was thrown out at first, then the base runners got caught both off base and were thrown out. It could have been a triple play, but with one out, the Triggers got out of what could have been a hard first inning. Trinidad’s offense came to life as Brian Frazier hit two home runs in the third and fifth innings.
Jake Swartout came in relief to close the game. The Cowboys managed one hit off of Swartout, who allowed no earned runs, had no walks, and struck out six during his two innings of work. Reagan Rutledge was hot from the plate for Alpine. Rutledge went 3-5, with a RBI and scored twice. He doubled in the fifth inning and singled in the first and ninth innings.
Daniel Karasinski got his second win for the Triggers despite allowing six runs over seven innings. He struck out six, walked two, and surrendered 12 hits. Cowboy Kevin Klaess was charged with his first loss of the year. He allowed seven runs in five innings, walked four and struck out four. The Trinidad Triggers’ Frazier, Eric Magee, Trevor Sealey and Eric Williams combined for 10 hits and seven RBIs.
Sunday saw less offense as both pitchers controlled their game and Trinidad pulled out a 4-3 victory. Eric Williams racked up two RBIs on one hit for the Triggers as he homered in the first inning. Joe Robinson’s nine strikeouts were enough to push the Triggers past Alpine. Robinson allowed one earned run on six hits and no walks over six innings.
Monday was rained out, so Tuesday saw a double header. Five runs in the opening three innings and Eric Magee’s two home runs carried the Triggers to an 11-2 victory over the Salina Stockade. Denver Diefenbach struck out seven, allowed one earned run, seven hits, and three walks over six innings.
In game two, the Triggers defeated the Stockade 8-7 in 7 innings in a win triggered by Edmund Cheatham’s four runs. He singled in the second and seventh innings. Monda, pitching for the Triggers, held the Stockade hitless over 1 1/3 innings, allowed no earned runs, walked one, and struck out three.
The city will be invaded by Roswell for a four game series beginning tonight. Roswell is currently in second place in the southern division and the matchup will feature the league’s best pitchers.
The Triggers have plenty of festivities planned for Father’s Day weekend, including their annual five-inning exhibition game against the Las Animas County First Responders in the EMS Blue Game on Father’s Day. Gates open at 1pm with the first pitch at 2:05. All dads get in free.
Trinidad will close out the home stand with a pair of games against the Great Bend Boom on Tuesday and Wednesday.
