In a rain shortened game, the El Paso Chihuahuas scored a season-high 16 runs to beat the Albuquerque Isotopes 16-0 at Isotopes Park Saturday night.
Outfielder Brian O’Grady singled leading off the top of the sixth inning when moments later the game went into a rain delay. The delay lasted one hour and eight minutes before the game was called, and the Chihuahuas the winners after five innings of play, the minimum for a game to be official.
El Paso starter Luke Westphal, making his Triple-A debut, did not allow a hit in five innings for the Chihuahuas second complete game of the season. The only baserunner that reached was on a two-out error in the bottom of the fifth inning.
While Westphal is given credit for a shutout, Major League Baseball confirmed that it is not considered a no-hitter because the game did not last nine innings.
Offensively the Chihuahuas could do no wrong. The 16 runs are a new season-high and the 20 hits ties their season-high. Infielder Matthew Batten finished 4-for-5, the second time he’s had four hits in a game in his professional career.
Outfielder Taylor Kohlwey went 4-for-4 including a two-run home run, and reached base five times.
Outfielders Brian O’Grady and Ben Ruta each had three hits with O’Grady doubling twice and driving in three and Ruta hitting the second El Paso homer of the night in the fifth to bring home three runs.
The win snaps a two-game losing streak.
Next game: Sunday at 6:35 p.m. Mountain Time from Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. El Paso TBA vs. Albuquerque RHP Dereck Rodriguez (1-2, 8.10). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 16 Albuquerque 0 – Saturday – Five Innings |  Box Score  |  Team Records: Albuquerque (17-34), El Paso (23-27)
WP: Westphal (1-0) | LP: Castellani (1-6) | S: None | Time: 2:06 (1:08 rain delay) | Attn: 10,482
