Matthew Batten hit a second-inning grand slam in the El Paso Chihuahuas’ 8-6 win over the Salt Lake Bees Saturday night at Smith’s Ballpark.
Batten had three hits and seven RBIs in the win, one RBI short of the Chihuahuas’ single-game record, also set in Salt Lake by Austin Hedges on July 10, 2016.
Dietrich Enns got the win for the second straight start Saturday and has allowed only six earned runs in his last 16.2 innings.
Brad Wieck picked up his second save in as many games after arriving from San Diego.
Batten’s grand slam was El Paso’s fourth of the season.
The Chihuahuas have won two of the three games in Salt Lake and three of their last four games overall.
Next Game: Sunday, 1:05 pm at Smith’s Ballpark. El Paso RHP Tyler Higgins (3-0, 3.38) vs. Salt Lake RHP Matt Harvey (MLB rehab). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 8 Salt Lake 6 – Saturday | Box Score | Team Records: El Paso (54-34), Salt Lake (39-49)
The El Paso Museum of History (EPMH) invites the public to celebrate the opening of its newest exhibition, Bases Loaded: El Paso and Beyond.
“Baseball, like apple pie, is one of those ideas that is inseparable from the idea of America,” said El Paso Museum of History Director Dr. Vladimir von Tsurikov. “Here at the Museum, we’re excited to take that national mythos and examine it from the unique El Paso perspective.”
The exhibit, which opens at 6:30 p.m., July 11., celebrates the local and national history of baseball starting with its pre-Civil War origins to the Chihuahuas arriving in El Paso.
In addition to tracing the evolution of baseball’s legacy as a national pastime, the exhibit also highlights baseball’s intersections with race, like the sport’s role in Mexico and key events in breaking the color barrier.
“As visitors move through the exhibit, they are invited to explore how different groups across the United States have shaped baseball’s beginnings, rise, and continued popularity,” museum officials shared. “Interactive displays, like a walkable baseball diamond and Chihuahuas fan photo booth, transform the space into an immersive historical experience.”
Materials for the exhibit have been sourced from across El Paso’s enthusiastic baseball community.
Many of the artifacts for Bases Loaded have been provided by Fernando Grado, an El Paso native and baseball enthusiast. His personal collection, which he began in his youth, includes local memorabilia from the Browns and Diablos as well as collectibles from eminent players like Jackie Robinson and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.
Also on display are items borrowed from the El Paso Chihuahuas’ own archive.
The exhibit runs through January 2020 and is free and open to the public.
The Salt Lake Bees scored six runs in the first two innings and beat the El Paso Chihuahuas 9-6 Thursday night at Smith’s Ballpark.
The Chihuahuas hit four home runs in the loss, including the 22nd of the season by Michael Gettys. It was his eighth homer in his last 16 games.
The Chihuahuas trailed 6-1 early and pushed the score within one to 7-6 before Salt Lake’s late tallies.
Boog Powell, Seth Mejias-Brean and Jose Pirela also homered for El Paso.
The Chihuahuas are now 4-2 all-time on the Fourth of July and have played four of their six Independence Day games at Salt Lake.
There was a one hour and 16 minute rain delay before the game.
Next Game: Friday, 6:35 pm at Smith’s Ballpark. El Paso LHP Dillon Overton (3-4, 7.31) vs. Salt Lake RHP J.C. Ramirez (MLB rehab). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Salt Lake 9 El Paso 6 – Thursday | Box Score | Team Records: El Paso (52-34), Salt Lake (39-47)
The El Paso Chihuahuas trailed 4-3 in the second inning Wednesday before scoring five unanswered runs to come back and beat the Fresno Grizzlies 8-4.
Michael Gettys’ three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, his team-leading 21st homer of the season, provided late insurance for El Paso.
San Diego Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski reached base three times and stole a base in his second MLB injury rehab game.
Kazuhisa Makita struck out five in three scoreless relief innings in his first Triple-A game of the season. The Chihuahuas bullpen has allowed only one earned run in their last 13 outings.
The Chihuahuas have hit 182 home runs this season, the highest single-season total in team history. The Chihuahuas won two of the five games against Fresno and five of the nine games on their homestand.
Next Game: Thursday, 6:35 pm at Smith’s Ballpark. El Paso LHP Jerry Keel (6-2, 6.42) vs. Salt Lake LHP Dillon Peters (2-1, 4.89). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 8 Fresno 4 – Wednesday | Box Score | Team Records: Fresno (44-42), El Paso (52-33)
Tuesday night’s Chihuahuas game against the Fresno Grizzlies could have started in the 4th inning when they were tied at 6 – and it could have ended soon after.
But the game had to go the required distance, and the Grizzlies piled up five more runs by the 6th inning to thrash the Dogs 11-9. .
The Chihuahuas had two chances late in the game to catch up to the Grizzlies with the bases loaded. Michael Gettys (.248 BA), who has 20 home runs this season, was fanned in the 8th inning.
Seth Mejias-Brean came up as a pinch hitter in the 9th as the Dogs’ last hope. The bases loaded on two outs and by that time, the score was 11-9 Fresno.
The pitch flew out of the closer’s hand and Mejias-Brean attacked it with a ferocious swing that sounded like it missed the barrel of the bat and floated to to shallow center field where a Grizzly claw was waiting.
With the loss, the Chihuahuas are trailing the five-game series with the Grizzlies 3-1, but have a chance to at least draw closer with a win in the last game Wednesday.
Tuesday’s loss had little effect on the standings: the Dogs are still in top of the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division with a 51-33 record.
The winning pitcher was Erick Fedde (12.60 ERA, 1-1). The losing pitcher was Kyle McGrath (8.23 ERA, 3-3). There were 6,845 at Southwest University Ballpark.
Next Game: Wednesday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Fresno RHP Joe Ross (2-0, 3.68) vs. El Paso LHP Paco Rodriguez (3-1, 3.73). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Fresno 11 El Paso 9 – Tuesday | Box Score | Team Records: Fresno (44-41), El Paso (51-33)
The home-run hitting leaders of the PCL finally came back to Southwest University Park on Monday after a two-game skid and unloaded four long balls on the Fresno Grizzlies in their 11-1 win.
The Chihuahuas dropped the first two games of the series against Fresno but still sit atop the PCL- Pacific Southern Division and lead the league in home runs (178) and total bases (1,618).
The Dogs started declawing the Grizzlies in the 3rd inning with Jose Pirela (.344 BA) two-RBI triple that rolled to the left field wall. Pirela caught a lift home on the first of Aderlin Rodriguez’s home runs – it was an impressive and rarely seen arching ball that flew to the deepest part of center field and flew over the 50-foot green wall marked “406.” El Paso scored four on two swings.
El Paso followed up in the 4th inning with back-to-back homers by infielder Jason Vosler (.290 BA) and outfielder Matthew Batten (.317 BA). Vosler’s homer was tall and sailed in the that winds headed in the same direction.
The ball landed within a few feet of a brand new Mustang on display before bouncing out to Santa Fe Avenue.
Following the back-to-back dingers, catcher Webster Rivas (.243 BA) slammed a liner to the “406” in center field that looked like the third “back” but it was caught over-the-shoulder style by the speedy Fresno center fielder, El Paso 6-0.
El Paso continued to sprinkle in runs through the 8th inning, including the second homer by Rodriguez (.278 BA) that flew over the Peter Piper Pizza Porch in left field and landed somewhere in the alley.
The Dogs’ pitching deserves a lot of credit for the win.
Starter Dietrich Enns went more than six innings striking out 8, walking 4, and giving up no runs. The only Fresno run made blemished the scoreboard in the 8th inning from a couple of back-to-back doubles off a reliever.
The winning pitcher was Enns (8-5, 5.32 ERA). The losing pitcher was Ben Braymer (0-1, 9.35 ERA). There were 7,334 fans at Southwest University Ballpark.
Next Game: Tuesday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Fresno RHP Erick Fedde (0-1, 15.75) vs. El Paso LHP Kyle McGrath (3-2, 7.19). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 11 Fresno 1 – Monday | Box Score | Team Records: Fresno (43-41), El Paso (51-32)
Staff Report June 30, 2019El Paso Sports, SportsComments Off on Gallery+Story: Grizzlies grab second win in El Paso, down Chihuahuas 7-4
Matthew Batten hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of El Paso’s 7-4 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies Sunday night.
It was the fourth inside-the-park home run in Chihuahuas’ history and the first since Raffy Lopez hit one on April 12, 2018.
Aderlin Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, his fourth homer of the season. Seth Mejias-Brean had an RBI double and a walk and has reached base multiple times in each of his last seven starts.
The Chihuahuas’ bullpen didn’t allow any earned runs in the final 5.1 innings Sunday.
Fresno and El Paso entered Sunday’s game with a 44-44 all-time head-to-head record.
Next Game: Monday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Fresno LHP Ben Braymer (0-0, 5.79) vs. El Paso LHP Dietrich Enns (7-5, 5.75). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Fresno 7 El Paso 4 – Sunday | Box Score | Team Records: Fresno (43-40), El Paso (50-32)
The Chihuahuas let the Sacramento River Cats know early that is was going to be all about El Paso on Friday night. The Dogs went through the whole lineup and exploded with four runs on their way to 9-5 victory.
The real news is that the mighty Chihuahuas bats earned this win without any home runs – just timely hits.
In fact, the only home run was hit by ‘Cats infielder Zach Green that split the two brick buildings in right field and bounced out to the street. No word yet on any damage to any El Paso streetcars.
The Chihuahuas offense was good, as most other nights, but starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet and reliever Andres Munoz (3.45 ERA) were pretty dominant and limited the ‘Cats to five hits and three runs in seven innings.
The reason? At least 100 reasons called “miles per hour.”
The pitchers were blazing fast balls past the Sacramento hitters near or past 100 mph every time they let the heat loose. Add that to a breaking ball in the mid-80s and you have quite a combined pitching performance.
The ‘Cats tried to claw their way back in the 9th inning and added a couple runs on another pitcher, but were put to sleep quick on a 6-4-3 double play.
The Dogs still sit atop the PCL Pacific Southern Division, now with 50-30 record. This victory won the four-game series against the ‘Cats 3-1.
The winning pitcher was Lamet (1-0, 4.80 ERA). The losing pitcher was Enderson Franco (2-3, 6.65 ERA). There were 7,067 fans at Southwest University Ballpark.
Next Game: Saturday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Fresno RHP Kyle McGowin (5-2, 4.34) vs. El Paso RHP Miguel Diaz (0-0, 0.00). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 9 Sacramento 5 – Friday | Box Score | Team Records: Sacramento (40-40), El Paso (50-30)
The El Paso Chihuahuas and the Sacramento River Cats returned to their normal roles Thursday night: El Paso the vicious offensive team that leads professional baseball with 170 home runs and the ‘Cats a barely .500 team.
The result was a hit-laden and very slow-paced 17-6 victory for El Paso.
The ‘Cats started the scoring in the 1st with two home runs but checked out after that. They sprinkled in a few runs through the 7th inning but left the field a little outmatched and with a position player on the mound.
The Chihuahuas on the other hand, matched the ‘Cats two runs in the 1st inning and hardly stopped scoring. They scored in six of the eight innings they played and scored more than run in all but one of those.
The Dogs annihilated the ‘Cats pitching staff facing five pitchers and a position player – and the position player (catcher Ronnie Freeman) was the only one who did not give up one of El Paso’s 20 hits.
Just about every El Paso batter got at least one hit, but shortstop Seth Mejias-Brean (.335 BA) went 4-for-5.
The El Paso at-bats were becoming so time consuming that some fans began to yell for an end to the game loud enough to be heard throughout the park.
The Dogs are still leading the PCL-Pacific Southern Division with their 50 wins and there closest rival, the Las Vegas Aviators, trail by five games.
The winning pitcher was Paco Rodriguez (3-1, 3.73 ERA). The losing pitcher was Andrew Suarez (3-6, 6.29 ERA). There were 8,075 fans at Southwest University Ballpark.
Next Game: Friday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Sacramento RHP Enderson Franco (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.
El Paso 17 Sacramento 6 – Thursday | Box Score | Team Records: Sacramento (40-39), El Paso (49-30)
Larry Monarrez June 26, 2019El Paso Sports, SportsComments Off on Gallery+Story: Cats bite ‘Dogs 5-4; Blasts by France, Pirela add to club’s total
The El Paso and Sacramento ball clubs were at it again on Wednesday, but this time the Chihuahuas just rolled over for the ‘Cats and lost it 5-4.
The Dogs, that still lead PCL-Southern with a 48-30 record, exploded with four runs in the 1st inning.
A two-run bomb by Ty France (.386 BA) followed by another two-run blast by Jose Pirela (.297 BA) made it look like the Dogs were going to power their way to another win.
Unfortunately, the Dogs buried their bats after the 1st and forgot where they left them.
Meanwhile, Sacramento clawed their way to a tie in the 4th inning and capped it off with what turned out to be the winning run in the 7th inning.
The winning pitcher was Tyler Rogers (4-2, 3.11 ERA). The losing pitcher was Eric Yardley (0-2, 3.09 ERA). Jandel Gustave (5.17 ERA) earned the save and his fastball in the upper 90s sat the Dogs down 1-2-3.
There were 6,008 fans at Southwest University Ballpark.
Next Game: Thursday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Sacramento LHP Andrew Suarez (3-5, 5.34) vs. El Paso RHP Robert Stock (3-0, 3.08). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Sacramento 5 El Paso 4 – Wednesday | Box Score | Team Records: Sacramento (40-38), El Paso (48-30)
Staff Report June 26, 2019El Paso Sports, SportsComments Off on Ronald McDonald House Charities named 2019 Triple-A All-Star Game Title Partner
The El Paso Chihuahuas announced today that Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has been named the title partner of the 2019 Triple-A All-Star Game.
The 2019 RMHC Triple-A All-Star Game & Jarritos Triple-A Home Run Derby will take place July 8-10 at Southwest University Park.
“It’s an honor to host Triple-A Baseball’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, Minor League Baseball’s premier and most exclusive events, here in El Paso at Southwest University Park,” said MountainStar Sports Group President Alan Ledford, “and we are thrilled to have national organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities and Jarritos as our title partners.”
Gates for the 2019 RMHC Triple-A All-Star Game will open at 5:30 p.m. The game is slated to air on the MLB Network and Chihuahuas All-Star broadcaster Tim Hagerty will call the game on 600 ESPN El Paso.
“RMHC is excited to be a part of the 2019 Triple-A All Star Game,” said Sheila Musolino, president and CEO, of RMHC. “We look forward to the opportunity to engage Minor League Baseball fans with our mission of keeping families with ill or injured children near the medical care they need, when they need it most.”
RMHC helps families stay together, and close to the medical care their child needs at leading hospitals worldwide. RMHC programs not only provide access to quality health care, they enable family-centered care ensuring families are fully supported and actively involved in their children’s care.
RMHC gives families the ability to spend more time with their ill or injured children, to interact with their doctors, and to make important decisions about their care. To donate, please click here.
“This is truly a great set of partners for both of the events,” said MountainStar Sports Group Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Taylor. “This game and its messaging will highlight the efforts and the impact that RMHC provides. Jarritos and their overall line of drinks will surely add some flavor to the Home Run Derby.”
Started in 1988, the 32nd edition of the game will showcase the best players of Triple-A Baseball’s Pacific Coast (PCL) and International Leagues. Since 1998, the International League has bested the PCL with a 12-9 record with the PCL the winners in 2017 & 2018.
All-Star Game alumni include current San Diego Padres Wil Myers and Ian Kinsler, as well as Derek Jeter, Chase Utley and Joc Pederson, to name a few.
Individual tickets and bundled packages for both events are available and on sale now, but they are going fast. Group leaders are able to purchase a group to the All-Star Game and/or the Home Run Derby.
Supplies are limited so fans are encouraged to buy now so as not to miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime events. Tickets can be purchased at the Southwest University Park box offices, online or by calling (915) 533-BASE.
2019 JARRITOS TRIPLE-A HOME RUN DERBY
JULY 8, 2019
6 p.m. Gates Open
6-7 p.m. All-Star Autograph Session
7 p.m. “Around the Horn” competition featuring local Youth Baseball Teams
Larry Monarrez June 25, 2019SportsComments Off on Gallery+Story: Chihuahuas outlast River Cats 12-11
It was an epic battle at Southwest University Ballpark on Tuesday night: a real eye-for-an-eye, run-for-a-run fight. Fortunately for the Dogs, they turned the bats on late in the game to give Sacramento the black eye with 12-11 El Paso win.
The El Paso Chihuahuas and the Sacramento River Cats are nowhere near each other in terms of stats: the ‘Cats, a barely .500 team and El Paso leading in several offensive categories and leading the PCL-Southern division with a 47-29 record.
But Tuesday night, they were scrapping like, well, like ‘Cats and Dogs.
It was all El Paso through the 4th inning, the Dogs led the River Cats 4-0. But then a couple of softly hit singles piled up in favor of Sacramento to deliver an RBI and set the stage for shortstop Abiatal Avelino (.278 BA).
Avelino came to the plate with two ‘Cats on and nailed one to the GECU Green Seats where it might have hit a fan. The home run tied the game and drew staff to the area. Before the staff even cleared, another bomb landed within a few feet of the first home run. Just like that, the ‘Cats led 5-4.
One team scored and the other responded. El Paso answered in their half of the 4th inning with an RBI single by first baseman Aderlin Rodriguez (.254 BA) to tie it at 5.
And so it went, blow by blow. Sacramento scored two more and El Paso answered with three, El Paso 8-7 in the bottom of the 5th.
The ‘Cats scored two more runs off a broken-bat single to center and a play that got their manager tossed. First baseman Austin Slater hit the ball to second baseman Esteban Quiroz who tried to tag the runner coming into second base. That runner, Chris Shaw, slightly angled his shoulders and stepped around Quiroz to avoid the tag.
The umpire called him out for running out of the base path. That was enough for Sacramento manager Dave Brundage to run out to the umpire for an explanation. What he ended up getting was a free ticket back to the clubhouse.
The teams were tied, 9-9 by the end of the 7th inning.
The Dogs were down by one run in the bottom of the 8th inning until shortstop Seth Mejias-Brean (.324 BA) shot a screaming groundball past third base and down the line into left field to score outfielder Michael Gettys, the game was tied again.
A wild pitch with a man on third delivered the go-ahead run but the Chihuahuas had a little more to give. Left fielder Matthew Batten (.319 BA) earned a walk and made it to third on a long single, men on the corners for the Dogs. Quiroz (.281 BA) singled him in for the twelfth run.
Of course, the ‘Cats tried to come back and did manage to score one more but just ran out of lives: El Paso 12-11.
The winning pitcher was Andres Munoz (3-2, 3.95 ERA). The losing pitcher was Williams Jerez (2-3, 4.08 ERA). Gerardo Reyes (2.59 ERA) and his fastball in the upper 90s, earned his third save.
Next Game: Wednesday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Sacramento LHP Conner Menez (0-0, 3.31) vs. El Paso LHP Dietrich Enns (7-5, 5.88). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 12 Sacramento 11 – Tuesday | Box Score | Team Records: Sacramento (39-38), El Paso (48-29)
Tacoma’s Chris Mariscal hit a game-ending grand slam Monday in the Rainiers’ 7-4, 10-inning win over the El Paso Chihuahuas at Cheney Stadium.
Michael Gettys went 1-for-4 with a double, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, while ending his home run streak at five games. Ty France went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the eighth inning, his 17th homer of the season and second in as many days.
Robert Stock pitched two scoreless, hitless innings in his second start of the series for El Paso.
The Chihuahuas won three of the five games on the visit to Tacoma and the two teams split their 16 games this year.
It was El Paso’s first extra-inning loss of the season and Tacoma’s first extra-inning win of the year.
Next Game: Tuesday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Sacramento LHP Ty Blach (2-4, 5.85) vs. El Paso RHP Miguel Diaz (0-0, 0.00). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Tacoma 7 El Paso 4 – Monday – 10 Innings | Box Score | Team Records: El Paso (47-29), Tacoma (36-41)
The El Paso Chihuahuas trailed 6-0 in the fifth inning Sunday but came back to beat the Tacoma Rainiers 8-7.
El Paso’s four-run fifth inning rally included a three-run homer by Michael Gettys, moving his home run streak to five games, tying the Chihuahuas team record. Ty France hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh with two outs to put El Paso ahead.
It was El Paso’s third grand slam this season and second against Tacoma.
Gerardo Reyes and Robbie Erlin threw scoreless relief outings for the Chihuahuas to close the game. Erlin’s save was his first since 2010 at Low-A Hickory in the Texas Rangers organization.
Jose Pirela went 0-for-4 Sunday, ending his hitting streak at 16 games.
The Chihuahuas have won four of their last five games and have a 6.5-game first-place lead over second place Las Vegas.
Next Game: Monday, 7:05 pm at Cheney Stadium. El Paso RHP Robert Stock (3-0, 3.33) vs. Tacoma LHP Sean Nolin (1-0, 3.52). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
El Paso 8 Tacoma 7 – Sunday | Box Score | Team Records: El Paso (47-28), Tacoma (35-41)
Jose Lobaton’s go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning brought in the final run of Friday’s 6-5 Tacoma Rainiers’ win over the El Paso Chihuahuas.
El Paso trailed 4-0 in the fourth inning but eventually tied the game 5-5 in the top of the sixth on a three-run home run by Michael Gettys, his third straight game with a homer.
Gettys has a seven-game hitting streak and 12 hits in his last six games.
Aderlin Rodriguez hit a solo homer Friday and now has 11 extra-base hits out of his 13 total hits this season.
Seattle Mariners prospect Jake Fraley went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in his first Triple-A game Friday.
The two teams have split the first two games of the five-game series.
Next Game: Saturday, 6:05 pm at Cheney Stadium. El Paso RHP Dinelson Lamet (0-0, 7.20) vs. Tacoma LHP Jon Niese (3-2, 5.03). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Tacoma 6 El Paso 5 – Friday | Box Score | Team Records: El Paso (45-28), Tacoma (35-39)
El Paso Herald-Post El Paso News & Opinion
