Chihuahuas catcher #18 Austin Hedges snd #5 Casey McElroy celebrate during the bottom of the eighth inning
Rally Habit? Chihuahuas Do It Again, Ground Grizzlies 9-4
The El Paso Chihuahuas scored seven late unanswered runs Sunday and beat the Fresno Grizzlies 9-4. It was the fourth consecutive game that El Paso took a lead in the seventh inning or later. The Chihuahuas have won four of their last five games.
The Chihuahuas trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Casey McElroy hit an RBI single to get El Paso within one. McElroy went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and is now 18 for his last 35.
Later in the bottom of the sixth, Josh Satin batted with runners at the corners and was safe at first on a potential double play ball, allowing the tying run to score.
Nick Noonan’s first Chihuahuas home run came on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh and broke the 4-4 tie. The Chihuahuas went on to score four runs in the eighth, leading to the comfortable win.
Jose Dominguez and Derek Eitel both pitched perfect relief outings for El Paso. Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe had two hits each for the Chihuahuas. The Chihuahuas are now 3-0 all-time on Mother’s Day.
Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_05_08_freaaa_elpaaa_1&mode=gameday
Team Records: Fresno (13-16), El Paso (14-15)
Next Game: Monday vs. Fresno at Southwest University Park, 6:35 p.m. Fresno TBA vs. El Paso RHP Brandon Morrow (0-0, 11.25). Game coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com
El Paso 9 Fresno 4 – Sunday
WP: Dominguez (1-1)
LP: Jankowski (0-2)
S: None
Time: 2:44
Attn: 6,115