Tag Archives: el paso chihuahuas

The El Paso Chihuahuas scored three runs in the seventh inning to break a late tie and beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 10-7 Sunday.

San Diego Padres righty Dinelson Lamet pitched five innings in an MLB rehab assignment, allowing four runs on four hits. Lamet struck out four and walked one.

Luis Urias went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, with two coming on a home run, his team-leading 16^th of the season. Ty France reached base four times but didn’t hit a home run, ending his team record-tying streak of games with at least one homer at five.

Former Chihuahua Kevin Quackenbush pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Oklahoma City.

The loss ended Oklahoma City’s team-record nine-game road winning streak.   The win ended El Paso’s three-game losing streak.

Next Game: Monday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Oklahoma City RHP Mitchell White (2-4, 7.71) vs. El Paso LHP Logan Allen (4-3, 5.15). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

El Paso 10 Oklahoma City 7 – Sunday  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: Oklahoma City (28-40), El Paso (43-26)

WP: P. Rodriguez (2-1)  |  LP: Grimm (3-4)  |  S: None  |  Time: 3:00  |  Attn: 8,152

Gallery by Andres ‘Ace’ Acosta – Chief Photographer – El Paso Herald Post

The El Paso Chihuahuas lost 11-3 to the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Saturday and most of the ballpark knew it was gonna be a rough going by the middle of the 1st inning.

That’s when the Dodgers smacked six runs on the scoreboard and just never let up.

The Dogs have been in a bit of a funk lately, losing five of their last eight games. That funk was loud and ugly all through Saturday’s game.

El Paso’s defense was definitely a factor, but the Dog’s pitching wasn’t at its best. Starter Kyle McGrath barely made it through one inning and gave up six runs on 35 pitches.

Four El Paso relievers and a position player followed and gave up the remaining five runs.

The Dogs weren’t complete puppies though. Left fielder Michael Gettys (.235 BA) hit an RBI-single in the 3rd inning. Infielder Jason Vosler (.268 BA) nailed a home run in the 5th inning. And, third baseman Ty France smacked one over the center field wall in the 6th inning.

The highlight of the game for Chihuahuas fans was France’s home run. It was the fifth consecutive game that he belted a home run. It’s a Chihuahuas franchise record he now shares with  sluggers Franmil Reyes, who did it in 2018, and Austin Hedges, who did it in 2016.

France (.426 BA) has a chance to break the record Sunday at 6 p.m. against the Dodgers.

The winning pitcher was Brock Stewart (2-4, 6.23 ERA). The losing pitcher was McGrath (3-2,  6.11 ERA). There were 9,297 fans on Selena night at Southwest University Ballpark.

Next Game: Sunday, 6:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Oklahoma City LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-2, 6.32) vs. El Paso RHP Dinelson Lamet (MLB Rehab). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Oklahoma City 11 El Paso 3 – Saturday  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: Oklahoma City (28-39), El Paso (42

WP: Stewart (2-4)  |  LP: McGrath (3-2)  |  S: None  |  Time: 3:04  |  Attn: 9,297

Author: Larry Monarrez | Photos: Johnny Yturales – El Paso Herald Post

It didn’t seem to matter what El Paso – the team or the city – threw at the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Thursday. The city threw strong winds and lightning, but the Dogs just threw their bats out when they needed them the most, leading to a ‘Cakes 7-6 win.

Both teams posted two runs early, but New Orleans popped it open in the 3rd inning when they scored four runs.

El Paso, the team leading professional baseball in home runs at 145, came up in the 4th determined to score. But the only one to hold true was left fielder Michael Gettys, who smacked a the ball 470-plus feet to the Shriner’s Building, ‘Cakes 6-3.

The Chihuahuas third baseman Ty France came up in the 6th inning to and lined one out to center, New Orleans 7-4.

And so it went until the bottom of the 9th. The lightening calmed and actual rain began to pour all over the ‘Cakes as the Dogs went up for their last three outs or at least three runs to keep playing.

With two men on and two outs, pinch hitter Seth Mejias-Brean (.320 BA) steps into the box and bangs a bases-clearing single to left field, the ‘Cakes were up by one run.

Enter, Boog Powell (.308 BA). A good bat to have at the plate when you’re trying to rally. Powell swings hard and hits a liner…to ‘Cakes first baseman Billy Fleming and he gently taps the bag.

The winning pitcher was Hector Noesi (6-3), the losing pitcher was Dillon Overton (2-3), and he save went to Kyle Keller.

Despite the loss, El Paso leads the Pacific Coast League Southern Division with a 42-24 record.

***

Next Game: Friday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. New Orleans RHP Zac Gallen (8-1, 1.57) vs. El Paso LHP Dietrich Enns (7-3, 5.29). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

New Orleans 7 El Paso 6 – Thursday  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: New Orleans (36-31), El Paso (42-24)

WP: Noesi (6-3)  |  LP: Overton (2-3)  |  S: Keller (4)  |  Time: 2:53 (:25 delay)  |  Attn: 7,168

Author: Larry Monarrez  |  Photos: Andres ‘Ace’ Acosta Chief Photographer – El Paso Herald Post

Jose Pirela hit two home runs for El Paso Monday afternoon but the Chihuahuas lost 5-3 to the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park.

All 11 Omaha hits Monday were singles. Infielder Seth Mejias-Brean went 2-for-4 for El Paso and has reached base in nine of his last 14 plate appearances.

Monday was only the sixth time the Chihuahuas lost after scoring first, compared to 30 wins. Ty France hit a solo home run in the first inning Monday, giving El Paso a first-inning run in each of the last three games.

The two teams split the close four-game series, with all games decided by four runs or less.

The Chihuahuas do not play on Tuesday.

Next Game: Wednesday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. New Orleans RHP Ben Meyer (2-4, 6.98) vs. El Paso LHP Jerry Keel (5-2, 5.94). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Omaha 5 El Paso 3 – Monday  |  Box Score  |   Team Records: El Paso (41-23), Omaha (32-33)  

WP: Blewett (5-5)  |  LP: Allen (4-3)  |  S: Hill (3)  |  Time: 2:34  |  Attn: 4,192

El Paso starter Kyle McGrath pitched seven perfect innings in the Chihuahuas’ 6-3 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers Sunday afternoon at Werner Park.

Omaha’s first baserunner came on a single to lead off the eighth inning. It was the closest the Chihuahuas have ever come to a no-hitter or perfect game.

McGrath’s seven perfect innings came exactly 13 years after the most recent no-hitter by the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, Portland’s combined perfect game at Sacramento on June 9, 2006.

The Chihuahuas scored three times in the top of the 10^th inning on an RBI single by Jose Pirela and a two-run home run by Aderlin Rodriguez, his first Triple-A homer.

The win moved El Paso’s extra-inning record to 3-0, with all three extra-inning games coming on the road.

The Chihuahuas scored once in the first and twice in the second Sunday and have had at least one run in the first or second inning in all six games of their current road trip.

Next Game: Monday, 11:05 am at Werner Park. El Paso LHP Logan Allen (4-2, 4.99) vs. Omaha RHP Scott Blewitt (4-5, 6.41). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

El Paso 6 Omaha 3 – Sunday – 10 Innings  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: El Paso (41-22), Omaha (31-33)

WP: Maton (1-1)  |  LP: Zimmer (1-3)  |  S: None  |  Time: 3:22  |  Attn: 4,271

Humberto Arteaga hit an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Omaha Storm Chasers a 7-6 walk-off win over the El Paso Chihuahuas Saturday night at Werner Park.

The back-and-forth game featured seven lead changes.

El Paso trailed 5-4 entering the top of the ninth when a dropped pop up by Omaha and a home run by Esteban Quiroz gave the Chihuahuas a 6-5 advantage.

Jorge Bonifacio led off the bottom of the ninth with a game-tying homer and Arteaga ended it a few batters later.

Francisco Mejia went 1-for-5 in the game with a solo home run that traveled an estimated 507 feet.

Ty France went 3-for-5 with two doubles and now has 19 extra-base hits in 21 Triple-A games this season.

The loss ended El Paso’s six-game winning streak.

Next Game: Sunday, 1:05 pm at Werner Park. El Paso LHP Kyle McGrath (3-1, 5.60) vs. Omaha LHP Foster Griffin (6-2, 4.62). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Omaha 7 El Paso 6 – Saturday  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: El Paso (40-22), Omaha (31-32)

WP: Lively (3-1)  |  LP: Munoz (1-1)  |  S: None  |  Time: 3:19 | Attn: 6,331

A five-run, 10-batter second inning led the El Paso Chihuahuas to a 6-2 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers Friday night at Werner Park.

The second-inning rally included a three-run double from Ty France in his first game back since being optioned by San Diego.

France has 31 RBIs in 20 Triple-A games this season.

Dillon Overton allowed two runs in five innings and picked up his second win in as many starts. Brad Wieck tossed two scoreless innings in his first game since being optioned by San Diego.

Catcher Webster Rivas went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in his first Chihuahuas game and hit his first Triple-A home run.

The Chihuahuas bullpen has not allowed an earned run in its last 15 innings. El Paso has won all four games of its Midwest road trip and has won six in a row overall.

El Paso 6 Omaha 2 – Friday  |   Box Score  |  Team Records: El Paso (40-21), Omaha (30-32)

WP: Overton (2-2)  |  LP: Hernandez (1-3)  |  S: None  |  Time: 2:51  |  Attn: 7,278

Next Game: Saturday, 6:05 pm at Werner Park. El Paso LHP Dietrich Enns (7-3, 5.05) vs. Omaha RHP Kyle Zimmer (1-2, 5.76). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

The El Paso Chihuahuas defeated the Iowa Cubs 8-5 Thursday to sweep the three-game series and win their fifth game in a row overall, with all five wins coming against first place teams.

Jason Vosler went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs against his former team, his second multi-home run game of the year.

Luis Urias was 3-for-3 through four innings with a single, double and triple but flied out twice in his chances for the third cycle in Chihuahuas’ history.

Robert Stock, Eric Yardley and Phil Maton all pitched scoreless innings out of the El Paso bullpen.

San Diego Padres player Jose Pirela went 2-for-5 on injury rehab Thursday with his second home run in as many games.

The Chihuahuas scored two first inning runs for the second time in their last three games and now have 61 first-inning runs through 60 games this season.

The sweep was the third of the season for El Paso.

Next Game: Friday, 6:05 pm at Werner Park. El Paso LHP Dillon Overton (1-2, 6.08) vs. Omaha RHP Arnoldo Hernandez (1-2, 8.51). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

El Paso 8 Iowa 5 – Thursday  |  Box Score  |  Team Records: El Paso (39-21), Iowa (34-27)

WP: Keel (5-2)  |  LP: Clifton (1-5)  |  S: Maton (2)  |  Time: 2:57  |  Attn: 7,072

The El Paso Chihuahuas trailed 4-0 early before scoring a run in six different innings to come back and beat the Iowa Cubs 6-4 Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park.

The Chihuahuas hit three solo homers Wednesday – the second in as many games for Esteban Quiroz, a game-tying homer in the sixth inning by Jose Pirela, and a go-ahead home run by Francisco Mejia in the eighth.

Mejia now has 11 extra-base hits in his 11 games this season with El Paso.

Logan Allen allowed four runs, three of which were earned, in the first inning before throwing five scoreless innings to close his start. The Chihuahuas are now 11-3 in day games this season.

El Paso clinched a series win over Iowa and has won four consecutive games.

Next Game: Thursday, 6:08 pm at Principal Park. El Paso LHP Jerry Keel (4-2, 5.85) vs. Iowa RHP Trevor Clifton (1-4, 3.76). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

El Paso 6 Iowa 4 – Wednesday  |  Box Score   |   Team Records: El Paso (38-21), Iowa (34-26)

WP: Megill (1-0)  |  LP: Collins (1-1)  |  S: Munoz (2)  |  Time: 2:42  |  Attn: 8,212

The El Paso Chihuahuas beat the Iowa Cubs 6-3 Tuesday in the first 2019 matchup of the two first place teams.

The score was 6-3 in the fourth inning and neither side brought in any runs in the game’s final five innings. El Paso has won three games in a row and now has a 21-8 road record.

Kyle McGrath pitched a season-high five innings in his third spot start of the year and got the win.

San Diego Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero went 2-for-5 with a double and a 422-foot home run to center field in the fourth game of his injury rehab assignment.

The Chihuahuas scored twice in the first inning Tuesday and now have 59 first-inning runs in their 58 games.

Gerardo Reyes pitched two perfect relief innings and struck out four I-Cubs.

El Paso 6 Iowa 3 – Tuesday  | Box Score

WP: McGrath (3-1)  |  LP: Swarmer (4-6)  |  S: Yardley (4)  |  Time: 2:33  |  Attn: 6,442

Team Records: El Paso (37-21), Iowa (34-25)

Next Game: Wednesday, 11:08 am at Principal Park. El Paso LHP Logan Allen (4-2, 5.05) vs. Iowa RHP Alec Mills (2-2, 6.69). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

A little over a week after their ‘triple-play’ against hunger, officials with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank released the results of their annual food and donation drive.

Wednesday, May 29^th should have been the start of the fifth annual food drive sponsored by Chihuahuas and Whataburger, but the food drive was delayed due to the Chihuahuas not receiving their equipment.

“The cancellation on Wednesday affected us a little bit,” said Racquel Franco Brand Development Coordinator for Whataburger. “We’re just trying to service as many El Pasoans as possible.”

While these unfortunate circumstances might have played a role in the loss for the team on Thursday, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger volunteers and Whataburger staff quickly sprang into action and managed to score a huge win by collecting a record setting $3,440.00 in monetary donations over the weekend.

“The difference this year was a higher number of staff and volunteers from our partnered organization.All three groups pushed the drive even harder to make up for the lost day,” said Adrian Arvizo, the Corporate Partnership Services Coordinator for the Chihuahuas. “The first night’s collection was just as big as our biggest collection day last year; which fell on a Saturday,”

Chihuahuas fans who donated three or more canned goods, non-perishable food items, or a minimum dollar contribution received a free burger coupon from Whataburger.

Along with the food drive at the stadium, Whataburger staff members, as well as several of the Chihuahuas players, staff and even Chico himself, volunteered for the food bank on Saturday.

While the most recent drive was a success, donations are always welcome.  More more information on how to donate, visit the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger donation website.

They will leave the footprints of legends.

The current stars of Triple-A Baseball and the future stars of Major League Baseball will convene in El Paso in July.

The always-fun Home Run Derby will be Monday night, July 8, and the Triple-A All-Star Game will be Wednesday night, July 10.

The 30 teams in the Pacific Coast League and International League will showcase Minor League Baseball, Southwest University Park and El Paso in a fun-filled game that will be televised live on the Major League Baseball Network. More than 100 alumni from this game are currently playing in the Major Leagues.

The future stars will be right there. And perhaps there will be even more than future stars.

“The lineup for this All-Star Game could have prospective Hall of Famers on the field,” said Pacific Coast League president Branch Rickey.

And this is an opportunity, an opportunity to glimpse greatness that will not dance around very often.

“There are just two Triple-A leagues and there is no other way than to alternate it between leagues each year,” Rickey said. “It is a bidding process. A team has to reach out and ask for it. Of course, our top priority is to show off our newest ball parks. But the list is a long one to host this game. We are backed up and that is a wonderful thing.”

Rickey said El Paso and Southwest University Park was at the top of that list.

Why?

“Everywhere you go around the league, people want to tell you about El Paso,” Rickey said. “Everyone who has been here is so impressed – with the ball park and with the atmosphere of the fans.

“You come into El Paso and boom, here is Southwest University Park tucked beautifully into downtown,” Rickey said. “I love this park. I never get tired of it. This place is a flat out gem. The architecture is crisp and clean. Where else have you seen two buildings in the outfield, connected together by walkways? It allows an openness … there’s an openness to this ball park.”

Rickey gazed out over the ball park and added, “The second deck is close to the action. You are closer to the action than at any other ball park. It’s a place where I like to wander around, look at the game from different spots.”

The Home Run Derby is always a fun event at any level. This 2019 version of the Triple A slugfest should be more than a little breathtaking. The Chihuahuas alone or on pace to break the Pacific Coast League team home run record. There will be balls launched into the desert air in that event that will simply swipe the breath of the most seasoned fan.

The game itself will offer El Pasoans not only a chance to see the best of the PCL, which they see at times during the regular season, but also of the International League … a group they almost never get to see.

The Chihuahuas are now in their sixth season, have notched 400 wins and are approaching three million fans. The team, thanks to the parent club San Diego Padres, have won four straight PCL Pacific Southern Division championships and won the entire Pacific Coast League in 2016.

It has been an enormous success.

But, if first impressions mattered, this baseball fiesta might not have ever begun.

Smiling, then chuckling, Rickey said, “When I was first approached about Triple-A baseball in El Paso my answer was no. I just didn’t think it would work.”

What changed his mind?

Smiling again, Rickey said, “A meeting with the prospective ownership.”

The ownership group from MountainStar Sports Group put together an impressive program and has backed up every promise.

“That is one of the things we look at when awarding this All-Star Game,” Rickey said. “We want someone who knows how to put on big events. We’ve had this ownership put on our National Championship Game and they did an outstanding job.

“The All-Star Game is our premier event for showcasing Minor League Baseball,” Rickey said. “We schedule it on the only dark day in Major League Baseball, the day after their All-Star Game. Our All-Star Game will be the baseball showcase that night.”

It is, quite simply, an opportunity to see the best of the best on a typically fun night at Southwest University Park.

“The stars of the future are coming your way,” Rickey said.

They will play the game with a special flair, with their own special gifts and they will swipe your breath and create memories for a lifetime.

They will, after all, leave the footprints of legends.

***

Bill Knight is a contributing writer for the El Paso Chihuahuas. He can be contacted at bknight@epchihuahuas.com.