For the 1st time since 1994, when the El Paso Diablos won the Texas League Championship, the Borderland is home to a professional baseball championship team once again.
The El Paso Chihuahuas clinched their first Pacific Coast League championship Saturday in a 4-3 suspenseful 11-inning win. It is the first title for a Padres Triple-A affiliate since 1988 and El Paso’s first professional baseball championship since 1994.
With the game tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run single through a drawn-in infield to give the Chihuahuas a 3-1 advantage. Oklahoma City scored a single run in each of its next two team at-bats to tie the game. The score remain tied into the 11th, with Oklahoma City leaving runners on in scoring position in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings.
El Paso put runners on at first and third in the top of the 11th inning with no outs and then took the lead on a bizarre play. Jose Rondon popped up a bunt in front of the mound and Oklahoma City reliever Lisalverto Bonilla tried to make a diving catch. The ball flung out of his glove, flew over the catcher and Patrick Kivlehan scored the go-ahead run to make it 4-3 El Paso.
Oklahoma City’s Brandon Hicks hit a one-out double in the bottom of the 11th inning and advanced to third on a fly ball to center field. The tying run was at third base when Chris Taylor grounded out to third baseman Nick Noonan, ending the championship series.
Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_09_17_elpaaa_okcaaa_1&mode=gameday
Team Records: El Paso (3-1), Oklahoma City (1-3)
Next Game: Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game. El Paso TBA vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre TBA.
Season Highlight Gallery | Photos by Andres Acosta
El Paso 4 Oklahoma City 3 – Saturday – 11 Innings
WP: Eitel (2-0)
LP: Bonilla (0-1)
S: Maton (3)
Time: 3:43 (:41 delay)
Attn: 5,581
