Tag Archives: el paso chihuahuas

Fresh off of back-to-back appearances in the Pacific Coast League Championship and their third playoff berth, the El Paso Chihuahuas announced their 2018 home schedule on Tuesday.

Opening Night is slated for April 10^th versus the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels) at Southwest University Park.

The home season includes 70 home games of a 140-game schedule that will run through September 3^rd.

“We are already hard at work planning our fifth season celebration and have much to do as we plan our best promotional schedule yet,” said Vice President and General Manager Brad Taylor.

The Chihuahuas open their fifth season at Southwest University Park with 13 home games in both April and May including a seven-game series to kick–off the home season against the Bees and Las Vegas (New York Mets), respectively. Salt Lake returns for the second time at the end of April to start an eight-game slate that includes the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks), April 25^th-May 3^rd.

June is the heaviest month of the season with 16 home games including a seven-game homestand against the American Southern Division’s Nashville Sounds (Oakland A’s) and Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals).

The homestand also features a Father’s Day game on June 17^th.

The team will close out June with regional rival Albuquerque (Colorado Rockies) as part of a nine-game set that leads up to the Fourth of July (June 25^th-July 3^rd). The Chihuahuas take a break from play July 9^th-11^th for the Triple-A All-Star Game before returning home to play Reno July 12^th through July 15^th.

The Chihuahuas will end the 2018 campaign with 15 games in August and conclude the regular season at home with four games versus Tacoma (Seattle Mariners) during Labor Day weekend (August 31^s-September 3^rd).

The Chihuahuas will face Albuquerque, Fresno, Las Vegas, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake and Tacoma twice as members of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Pacific Conference.

The Chihuahuas, the 2017 PCL Pacific Conference Champions, are also taking deposits for 2018 Season Seats, groups and hospitality events. For more information call (915) 533-BASE, email tickets@epchihuahuas.com, or visit EPChihuahuas.com.

Individual game ticket sales, game times and promotions will be announced at a later date.

2018 Chihuahuas Home Schedule

DATE                                       TEAM                                                   AFFILIATE

April 10-12                             Salt Lake Bees                                    Los Angeles Angels

April 13-16                             Las Vegas 51s                                     New York Mets

April 25-29                             Salt Lake Bees                                    Los Angeles Angels

April 30-May 3                      Reno Aces                                           Arizona Diamondbacks

May 8-11                                 Tacoma Rainiers                               Seattle Mariners

May 17-20                              Fresno Grizzlies                                 Houston Astros

May 30-June 3                       Sacramento River Cats                     San Francisco Giants

June 13-15                              Nashville Sounds                               Oakland A’s

June 16-19                              Memphis Redbirds                            St. Louis Cardinals

June 25-28                              Fresno Grizzlies                                 Houston Astros

June 29-July 3                        Albuquerque Isotopes                      Colorado Rockies

July 9-11                                  All-Star Break

July 12-15                               Reno Aces                                           Arizona Diamondbacks

July 20-22                               Sacramento River Cats                     San Francisco Giants

August 1-3                              New Orleans Baby Cakes                 Miami Marlins

August 4-7                              Round Rock Express                        Texas Rangers

August 16-19                         Las Vegas 51s                                     New York Mets

August 21-23                         Albuquerque Isotopes                      Colorado Rockies

August 31-September 3      Tacoma Rainiers                               Seattle Mariners

 

Dates subject to change.

Times and promotions to be determined in the future.

 

 

2018 Home Schedule Breakdown

 

 

By Month

April                              13

May                                13

June                               16

July                                10

August                           15

September                   3

 

By Day of the Week

Sunday                          11

Monday                        7

Tuesday                        8

Wednesday                  9

Thursday                      12

Friday                           12

Saturday                       11

 

By Team

Albuquerque               8

Fresno                           8

Las Vegas                     8

Memphis                      4

Nashville                      3

New Orleans                3

Reno                              8

Round Rock                 4

Sacramento                 8

Salt Lake                      8

Tacoma                         8

The El Paso Chihuahuas brought the potential winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday but lost to the Memphis Redbirds 3-1 in the decisive Game 5 of the Pacific Coast League Championship series.

The Redbirds won the third league title in team history and stopped the Chihuahuas from winning back-to-back PCL championships.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Hunter Renfroe and Christian Villanueva collected two-out hits, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Memphis first baseman Patrick Wisdom then made a diving play on a line drive hit by Nick Buss, ending the threat.

The Chihuahuas also rallied in the bottom of the ninth, when Diego Goris and Tony Cruz both singled with no outs. But Memphis reliever Josh Lucas then struck out two batters in a row and got a pop out to shortstop to end the series.

Redbirds’ pitching was able to leave 10 Chihuahuas runners on base Sunday. El Paso pitchers held Memphis to only six runs in the final 40 innings of the series.

Box Score   |    Team Records: Memphis (3-2), El Paso (2-3)

Memphis 3 El Paso 1 – Sunday

WP: Pearce (1-0)

LP: Lloyd (0-1)

S: Lucas (2)

Time: 2:38

Attn: 5,210

Gallery by Andres Acosta, Chief Photographer, El Paso Herald-Post

Thursday afternoon’s game was scoreless with two outs in the bottom of the 11^th inning when Adolis Garcia hit a two-run home run to give the Memphis Redbirds a 2-0 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas.

The Redbirds now have a two games to none lead in the best-of-five series and can secure the Pacific Coast League title with a win in any of the three upcoming games at Southwest University Park.

Both starting pitchers were excellent Thursday, as Bryan Rodriguez tossed seven shutout innings for El Paso and Memphis righty Kevin Herget threw eight. Herget struck out 15 Chihuahuas, almost twice as many as his previous season high of eight. The Redbirds struck out 20 Chihuahuas Thursday.

El Paso did not have a runner reach second base in the game.

Thursday was the third postseason extra-inning game in Chihuahuas’ history. The team is now 1-2 in those games. The Redbirds went 12-0 in extra-inning games during the 2017 regular season.

El Paso’s strong offense was shut out only four times in the previous 146 games this season.

Box Score   |    Team Records: El Paso (0-2), Memphis (2-0)

Next Game: Friday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. El Paso RHP Walker Lockett (0-0, -.–) vs. Memphis RHP Ryan Helsley (0-0, -.–). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso.

Memphis 2 El Paso 0 – Thursday – 11 Innings

WP: Wick (1-0)

LP: Yardley (0-1)

S: None

Time: 2:52

Attn: 3,750

The El Paso Chihuahuas rallied late but lost to the Memphis Redbirds 6-4 at AutoZone Park Wednesday night. The victory gave the Redbirds a one game to none advantage in the best-of-five PCL Championship Series.

The Redbirds knocked Chris Huffman out of the game after three innings, ending a string of five consecutive strong starts by Huffman. Tyler O’Neill went 1-for-4 with a home run for Memphis, his fourth homer in five postseason games this year.

Chihuahuas’ leadoff hitter Travis Jankowski reached base four times Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. Dusty Coleman went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in the eighth for the Chihuahuas.

Wednesday was the second Championship Series Game 1 in Chihuahuas’ history. El Paso defeated Oklahoma City 7-5 in the opener of the 2016 Championship Series.

Next Game: Thursday, 11:05 am at AutoZone Park. El Paso RHP Bryan Rodriguez (0-0, -.–) vs. Memphis RHP Kevin Herget (0-0, -.–). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso.

Box Score    |     Team Records: El Paso (0-1), Memphis (1-0)

Memphis 6 El Paso 4 – Wednesday

WP: Hudson (1-0)

LP: Huffman (0-1)

S: Lucas (1)

Time: 2:56

Attn: 3,787

Memphis, Tn.  – Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Championship Series featuring the El Paso Chihuahuas and the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) has been postponed due to inclement weather, announced league officials.

The series, originally slated to begin on Tuesday, will start on Wednesday, September 13^th at 7:05 p.m. CDT at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn. Game 2 has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 14^th with a 12:05 p.m. CDT start.

The best of five series continues in El Paso with Game 3 scheduled for Friday, September 15^th at 7:05 p.m. MDT. Games 4 and 5 will be played on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, if necessary.

The Chihuahuas are seeking their second consecutive championship after a 3-0 series sweep of the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) for the Pacific Conference title, winning eight of their last 10 games to clinch the division title.

The last Padres Triple-A affiliate to win back-to-back titles was the 1975-1976 Hawaii Islanders.

Tickets are on sale now for the home portion of the championship series. It’s RED OUT NIGHT at the ballpark where fans are encouraged to wear red to support the Chihuahuas. Fans who attend will receive a rally towel while supplies last.

The night is also Flat Screen Friday where four guests will get the opportunity to win a flat screen television (restrictions apply).

Plenty of great seats remain for the championship series. Tickets may be purchased at EPChihuahuas.com, over the phone at (915) 533-BASE or at either of the Southwest University Park box office locations. For information call (915) 533-BASE or visit epchihuahuas.com.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Best of Five):  Chihuahuas vs. Memphis

Wednesday, September 13, 7:05 p.m. CDT, at Memphis

Thursday, September 14, 12:05 p.m. CDT, at Memphis

Friday, September 15, 7:05 p.m. MDT, in El Paso

Saturday, September 16, 7:05 p.m. MDT*, in El Paso

Sunday, September 17, 6:05 p.m. MDT*, in El Paso

    *if necessary

The El Paso Chihuahuas defeated the Reno Aces 7-2 Thursday night at Greater Nevada Field to take a two games to none lead in the best-of-five series.

One night after Chris Huffman had an excellent start for El Paso, Bryan Rodriguez allowed only two runs in a seven-inning start for the Chihuahuas.

The Chihuahuas struck first Thursday, bringing in three runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Jose Rondon and a two-run home run by Dusty Coleman. Rondon and Coleman had two hits each for the Chihuahuas.

Diego Goris went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth, his second pinch-hit homer in Reno this season, having also hit one on July 14. El Paso won five of its final six games at Greater Nevada Field this season.

The Chihuahuas have never clinched a playoff series on a home victory and could do so with a win Friday, Saturday or Sunday at Southwest University Park.

Next Game: Friday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Reno LHP Anthony Banda (0-0, -.–) vs. El Paso RHP Walker Lockett (0-0, -.–). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score   |    Team Records: El Paso (2-0), Reno (0-2)

El Paso 7 Reno 2 – Thursday

WP: Rodriguez (1-0)

LP: Clarke (0-1)

S: None

Time: 3:04

Attn: 3,577

The El Paso Chihuahuas came back from an early deficit to beat the Reno Aces 3-1 Wednesday night at Greater Nevada Field. The Chihuahuas now have a 1-0 advantage over Reno in the best-of-five series.

Trailing 1-0 Wednesday, Hunter Renfroe led off the top of the fourth with a line drive home run over the left field wall. It was Renfroe’s fifth PCL playoff home run in his three postseasons with El Paso.

Additional RBIs by Renfroe and Jose Rondon gave the Chihuahuas their 3-1 lead.  Neither team scored in the final four innings of the game, a rarity in hitter-friendly Reno.

Chris Huffman allowed only one run in 6.1 innings for the Chihuahuas. Dating back to the regular season, it was the sixth time in the last seven starts that Huffman pitched five innings or more and surrendered one run or less. Franchy Cordero went 2-for-4 with two doubles for El Paso.

Travis Jankowski reached base three times atop the El Paso batting order with two singles and a walk.

Wednesday was the first time in the Chihuahuas’ three postseasons that the club won the first game of the first round. The Chihuahuas’ all-time playoff record is now 8-6.

El Paso has won four of its last five games at Greater Nevada Field, dating back to the regular season.

Next Game: Thursday, 8:05 pm at Greater Nevada Field. El Paso RHP Bryan Rodriguez (0-0, -.–) vs. Reno RHP Taylor Clarke (0-0, -.– ERA). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

Box Score  |    Team Records: El Paso (1-0), Reno (0-1)

El Paso 3 Reno 1 – Wednesday

WP: Huffman (1-0)

LP: Buchanan (0-1)

S: Mazzoni (1)

Time: 2:33

Attn: 3,196

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Pacific Coast League announced Tuesday that El Paso outfielder Hunter Renfroe and Albuquerque left-hander Ryan Carpenter have been named the Player and Pitcher of the Week for the season-ending period of August 28-September 4.

Renfroe is only the third PCL player to win the award in back-to-back weeks since 2009, while Carpenter is the second PCL pitcher to be honored twice this season.

Renfroe collected a PCL-best 17 hits, while tying for the league lead in total bases (28) and RBI (13) in helping El Paso win their third straight Pacific Southern Division Championship. During the period, he hit for both average (.500) and power (.824 slugging percentage), compiling a 1.364 OPS in the process.

Renfroe also had five extra-base hits, three home runs and 10 runs scored.

In a series against then-playoff-hopeful Fresno, the former PCL MVP opened the set with three consecutive three-hit games – all in Chihuahuas wins. On August 28, he had a two-run homer, part of a three-RBI night, and a day later, added two more RBI. The third game of the set, Renfroe mashed a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of an eventual 14-inning victory. In the season-ending series at Sacramento, he had two more three-hit games.

The latter of those contests, Renfroe clubbed a first inning grand slam in the Chihuahuas division-clinching win. The Mississippi native had hits in seven of the eight games he appeared., a stretch that saw the defending PCL Champions go 6-2 to overcome Salt Lake and return to the postseason.

In his two weeks since joining El Paso, Renfroe has hit .509 (28-for-55) with four home runs and 18 RBI. He made San Diego’s Opening Day roster and hit 20 home runs prior to his option.

An eighth-round draft pick of the Padres in 2013 out of Mississippi State, Renfroe hit .306 (163-for-533) with 30 home runs and 105 RBI in 2016 en route to being named the league’s MVP. Renfroe’s former teammate, Austin Hedges, was the last PCL player to win back-to-back weekly awards.

This is the fifth such award of Renfroe’s career.

***

Carpenter spun 14 innings of three-run ball in a pair of starts against Reno, the Pacific Northern Division Champions. The first of those outings was at home on August 28, and he went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts – his third double-digit strikeout game of the season.

On September 3 at Greater Nevada Field, Carpenter produced another quality start, going seven innings and surrendering just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.

The All-PCL pitcher, in his second full-season with Albuquerque, led the league in innings pitched (156.0 IP), while finishing second with 161 strikeouts, the most for a PCL left-hander since 1985. Carpenter went 10-9 with a 4.15 ERA, the latter of which was only topped by two pitchers.

The southpaw was a seventh-round pick of the Rockies in 2011 out of Gonzaga University. He has worked his way through the Rockies system, going 43-46 with a 4.37 ERA (760.1 IP, 369 ER) in seven professional seasons. His only other career Pitcher of the Week award came this year for the period of June 26-July 2 after he recorded 18 strikeouts in 14 innings.

Days after helping the El Paso Chihuahuas clinch their third consecutive playoff berth, outfielder Nick Buss has won the 2017 Pacific Coast League batting title, the League office announced Tuesday. Buss is the first El Paso player to accomplish the feat in Chihuahuas’ history.

The 30-year-old, who collected 123 hits in 353 at-bats, hit .348 to take the title by three percentage points over Colorado Springs’ Ivan De Jesus, Jr. Buss had 39 multi-hit games in 114 games played, including nine contests of three or more hits. He had a season-best four knocks, along with a walk and three RBI, in an extra-inning win on June 24 over then-second-place Albuquerque.

Buss added a campaign-high four RBI, in addition to three hits, in another win over Albuquerque, this on May 4.

Buss had a season-best 10-game hitting streak from April 11-May 1, in which he hit .519 (14-for-27). The Michigan native batted .350 or higher in all but one month, including a monthly-best .464 (13-for-28) in 13 April contests.

On the season, Buss compiled 38 extra-base hits (19 doubles, eight triples, 11 home runs) with 55 RBI, 53 runs scored and a .936 OPS.

In his 10^th professional season with his fifth organization, Buss was the Chihuahuas’ only midseason All-Star; he recorded a hit in two at-bats in the 2017 Triple-A All-Star Game. The Padres signed Buss to a minor league contract in January, a year after being in the Angels organization.

The Chihuahuas are Buss’ fifth PCL team in the last five years, a span in which he has hit .307 (604-1969) with 43 homers and 302 RBI for Albuquerque, Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake and El Paso.

Buss was originally selected by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern California. He was also a PCL All-Star – both mid- and postseason – with then-Dodger-affiliate Albuquerque in 2013. Buss has appeared in 44 career Major League contests with the 2013 Dodgers and 2016 Angels.

To qualify for a League batting title in Minor League Baseball, hitters must have the number of total plate appearances equaling 2.7 multiplied by the number of games in the League’s Championship season. For this year, players qualified by recording at least 383 plate appearances in the PCL’s 142-game season.

Buss is the third Padres’ farmhand to win the batting title since Triple-A realigned in 1998, joining Brian Myrow in 2007 (.354) and Dean Anna in 2013 (.331).

The Sacramento River Cats hit five home runs after the eighth inning Monday and stunned the El Paso Chihuahuas 10-9 in 10 innings.

The Chihuahuas led 9-2 in the top of the eighth inning. Slade Heathcott’s second home run of the game was a walk-off shot with two outs in the bottom of the 10^th.

Monday was the final game of the 2017 regular season. The Chihuahuas finished their fourth campaign 73-69, the second best record in team history. The only year in which the Chihuahuas had more wins was 2015, when El Paso went 78-66.

The Chihuahuas have never finished a season with a losing record.

Franchy Cordero led off Monday’s game with a solo home run, El Paso’s first leadoff home run since Cordero did it on August 11 vs. Las Vegas. The Chihuahuas allowed seven homers Monday, the most in team history.

Dusty Coleman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, his 15^th Triple-A homer of the season.

Next Game: Wednesday, 8:05 pm at Greater Nevada Field. El Paso TBA vs. Reno RHP Jake Buchanan (0-0, -.– ERA). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score   |    Team Records: El Paso (73-69), Sacramento (64-77)

Sacramento 10 El Paso 9 – Monday – 10 Innings

WP: Knight (3-2)

LP: Yardley (0-1)

S: None

Time: 2:50

Attn: 7,290

The El Paso Chihuahuas clinched the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Southern Division title Sunday with a 7-3 victory over the Sacramento River Cats at Raley Field.

It is the third consecutive division championship for El Paso. The Chihuahuas are the only PCL team to reach the playoffs in both 2016 and 2017 and the first Padres’ Triple-A affiliate to win three straight division titles since the 1975-1977 Hawaii Islanders.

The Chihuahuas scored six times in an 11-batter first inning Sunday, with runs coming in on Hunter Renfroe’s grand slam and a two-run homer by Tony Cruz. Renfroe’s slam was El Paso’s fifth of the season, while Cruz knocked his fourth home run in his last five games.

The Chihuahuas will face the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks affiliate) in a best-of-five playoff series beginning on Wednesday, September 6 in Reno. After Games 1 and 2 at Greater Nevada Field, the Chihuahuas return home to Southwest University Park on Friday, September 8 for Game 3 of the series. Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) will also be in El Paso.

Playoff Tickets: Playoff strips and individual game tickets for the 2017 Pacific Coast League (PCL) playoffs are on sale now at the Southwest University Park Box Office.

Each strip includes one (1) seat for each potential playoff home game of each potential playoff round. Season Seat Holders have the first opportunity to purchase 2017 Playoff Strips in their current respective Season Seats.

Strips may be purchased either in-person or over the phone. Fans who purchase a playoff ticket strip will enjoy a cost savings over those buying individual game tickets. Playoff strips are not available online. For any games not played, the value may be applied towards any 2018 Season Seat package.

Tickets for games that are not played are refundable.

Next Game: Monday, 2:05 pm at Raley Field. El Paso TBA vs. LHP Matt Gage (2-7, 5.43 ERA). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score   |   Team Records: El Paso (73-68), Sacramento (63-77)

El Paso 7 Sacramento 3 – Sunday

WP: Melville (1-0)

LP: Suarez (6-6)

S: None

Time: 2:49

Attn: 9,490

The El Paso Chihuahuas had 14 hits in an 8-1 win over the Sacramento River Cats Saturday night.

With the Salt Lake Bees’ loss to Fresno Saturday, the Chihuahuas take sole possession of first place in the Southern Division, with two games left in the season.

Alongside 14 hits, the Chihuahuas had four stolen bases in the contest. Rafael Ortega stole a pair and now has 26 total on the season, which ties him for most in the Pacific Coast League.

Chase d’Arnaud and Nick Buss also each had a steal. Buss went 2-for-4 with two RBI and is now hitting .353, best in the Pacific Coast League, seven points ahead of Colorado Springs’ Ivan De Jesus Jr.

El Paso is now even with Sacramento at 7-7 on the season. The Chihuahuas have won seven of their last eight games.

Next Game: Sunday, 6:05 pm at Raley Field. RHP Tim Melville (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. LHP Andrew Suarez (6-5, 3.19 ERA). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score   |    Team Records: El Paso (72-68), Sacramento (63-76)

El Paso 8 Sacramento 1 – Saturday

WP: Overton (7-6)

LP: Flores (2-4)

S: None

Time: 3:08

Attn: 10,796