Tag Archives: Memphis Redbirds

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

El Paso and Memphis traded leads late Sunday at AutoZone Park but the Redbirds ended up with a 6-5 win over the Chihuahuas. El Paso dropped three of four in Memphis but finished their eight-game road trip 4-4.

Neither team scored until Jose Pirela hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the fourth inning, his third homer of the year. The 1-0 lead held until the bottom of the seventh, when Memphis left fielder Nick Martini hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run double. Luke Voit followed that up with a two-run homer to make it 4-1 Redbirds.

The Chihuahuas came back in the top of the eighth when Pirela struck again, lining a three-run home run over the left field bullpen to tie the game. The 4-4 tie was short lived, as former Padres prospect Chad Huffman hit a two-run, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Redbirds ahead 6-4.

Christian Villanueva sent the first pitch of the ninth inning inside the left field pole for a home run, El Paso’s third longball of the game, but the Chihuahuas did not get the tying run on base after Villanueva’s at bat.

Chihuahuas starter Zach Lee left the game in the second inning with an apparent injury. St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jhonny Peralta went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first injury rehab game with Memphis.

Next Game: Monday, 6:35 pm at Southwest University Park. El Paso RHP Walker Lockett (3-1, 5.50) vs. Colorado Springs RHP Hiram Burgos (2-2, 3.55). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score |  Team Records: El Paso (17-20), Memphis (24-13)

Memphis 6 El Paso 5 – Sunday

WP: Lucas (4-0)

LP: Valdez (1-2)

S: Montgomery (1)

Time: 2:27

Attn: 4,157

Luke Weaver pitched seven innings and allowed one run in the Memphis Redbirds’ 10-1 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas Saturday night at AutoZone Park in Memphis. Weaver has thrown 22 innings this season and has let up only one run.

The Redbirds scored once in the first and four times in the second to build up an early lead against Dinelson Lamet. Trailing 7-0 in the fifth, Chihuahuas catcher Rocky Gale lifted a solo home run over the left field wall, his first homer of the season.

El Paso relievers Christian Bethancourt and Keith Hessler both tossed scoreless outings in the loss.

All nine starting Redbirds reached base at least once on a hit or a hit by pitch. Memphis has won 13 of its last 15 games.

Memphis 10 Next Game: Sunday, 1:05 pm at AutoZone Park. El Paso RHP Zach Lee (1-1, 6.14) vs. Memphis LHP Marco Gonzales (0-0, 0.00). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score  |  Team Records: El Paso (17-19), Memphis (23-13)

El Paso 1 – Saturday

WP: Weaver (3-0)

LP: Lamet (2-2)

S: None

Time: 2:39

Attn: 8,476

A five-run fifth inning carried the El Paso Chihuahuas to a 7-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds Friday night at AutoZone Park.

With the score tied 2-2 in the fifth inning, the Chihuahuas scored five runs in a three-pitch span when Carlos Asuaje’s bases loaded, two-run single was followed by Jabari Blash’s three-run home run over the left field wall. Blash went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and has reached base five times in nine plate appearances since being optioned from San Diego.

Franchy Cordero went 4-for-5 with a stolen base atop the El Paso batting order. Tyrell Jenkins got the win after allowing two earned runs in six innings, his second start on the road trip that lasted six innings or more. Friday’s first pitch was delayed 28 minutes by rain.

The Chihuahuas have won four of their last five games.

Next Game: Saturday, 5:35 pm at AutoZone Park. El Paso RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-1, 2.48) vs. Memphis RHP Luke Weaver (2-0, 0.00). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

Box Score |  Team Records: El Paso (17-18), Memphis (22-13)

El Paso 7 Memphis 4 – Friday

WP: Jenkins (3-2)

LP: Mayers (2-4)

S: None

Time: 2:54 (:28 delay)

Attn: 4,545

El Paso’s three-game winning streak came to an end Thursday, as the Chihuahuas fell to the Memphis Redbirds 6-4.

Franchy Cordero hit a triple on the second pitch of the game, his league-leading sixth triple of the season. Later in the first inning, Jabari Blash hit the first pitch he saw after being optioned from San Diego for a two-run double, putting the Chihuahuas ahead 2-0.

A three-run home run by Memphis shortstop Paul DeJong gave the Redbirds a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first.

Rocky Gale’s two-run single in the top of the fourth made it 4-3 Chihuahuas but the Redbirds continued the back-and-fourth scoring with a two-run bottom of the fourth to go ahead 5-4. Redbirds righty Arturo Reyes, the brother of former Chihuahua Jorge Reyes, pitched seven innings and picked up his fifth win of the year.

Newcomer Jose Valdez, Logan Bawcom and Carlos Fisher all tossed scoreless outings out of the El Paso bullpen.

Next Game: Friday, 6:05 pm at AutoZone Park. El Paso RHP Tyrell Jenkins (2-2, 5.34) vs. Memphis RHP Mike Mayers (2-3, 4.85). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

Box Score |  Team Records: El Paso (16-18), Memphis (22-12)

Memphis 6 El Paso 4 – Thursday

WP: Reyes (5-0)

LP: Magill (2-3)

S: Brebbia (1)

Time: 2:22

Attn: 4,202

The El Paso Chihuahuas got at least one hit from all nine spots in the batting order in their 7-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds Thursday night at Southwest University Park. The Chihuahuas finished their eight-game homestand 4-4, despite dropping the first three games.

Daniel McCutchen allowed two runs in 6.1 innings to earn his ninth win of the season, matching Carlos Pimentel for the team lead. Manuel Margot went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, his second three-hit game in the last three nights.

Hunter Renfroe went 2-for-4 with a solo home run to center field, his league-leading 24^thhomer of the year. Austin Hedges had two hits and two RBIs in the win.

St. Louis Cardinals’ 21-year-old prospect Alex Reyes suffered the loss for the Redbirds, allowing four earned runs in 5.2 innings.

Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_07_21_mrbaaa_elpaaa_1&mode=gameday

Team Records: Memphis (46-51), El Paso (57-41)

Next Game: Friday at 8:05 p.m. vs. Sacramento at Raley Field. El Paso RHP Daniel McCutchen (8-6, 5.96) vs. Sacramento RHP Joan Gregorio (2-6, 5.92). Game coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. on 600 ESPN El Paso andwww.epchihuahuas.com

El Paso 7 Memphis 2 – Thursday

WP: McCutchen (9-6)

LP: Reyes (2-2)

S: Morrow (1)

Time: 2:32

Attn: 8,758

Pictures by Andres Acosta

The Memphis Redbirds beat El Paso 10-3 Wednesday to snap the Chihuahuas’ three-game winning streak. Major League veteran Jerome Williams pitched seven innings and allowed three runs to earn the victory. Jabari Blash went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and his tenth Triple-A home run of the season in the loss.

The Chihuahuas fell behind 3-0 in the first inning but quickly cut the deficit to one after RBI hits in the bottom of the first from Blash and Hunter Renfroe.

Newcomer Phil Maton took the mound with two Redbirds on and nobody out in the top of the fifth and pitched out of the jam. Maton threw two scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut after being transferred from High-A Lake Elsinore earlier in the day.

The Chihuahuas have hit eight home runs in their last four games after not hitting any in the first three games of the homestand. Former Padres’ minor leaguer Dean Anna went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs against his former organization Wednesday.

Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_07_20_mrbaaa_elpaaa_1&mode=gameday

Team Records: Memphis (46-50), El Paso (56-41)

Next Game: Thursday at 7:05 p.m. vs. Memphis at Southwest University Park. Memphis RHP Alex Reyes (2-1, 4.86) vs. El Paso RHP Daniel McCutchen (8-6, 5.96). Game coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

Memphis 10 El Paso 3 – Wednesday

WP: Williams (5-3)

LP: Pimentel (9-5)

S: None

Time: 3:11

Attn: 6,960

Taylor Lindsey hit for the first cycle in El Paso Chihuahuas’ history in Tuesday’s 9-2 win over the Memphis Redbirds.

Lindsey went 4-for-4 and his seventh-inning double to left field clinched the rare feat. It was the second cycle of his professional career (August 6, 2011 with Rookie-level Orem) and the first Padres’ Triple-A cycle since Mike Baxter (June 8, 2010 with Portland).

The Chihuahuas batted around in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs on five hits, including a solo home run by Carlos Asuaje, his sixth of the year and first at Southwest University Park.

Manuel Margot hit two triples and now leads the Pacific Coast League with 10. His 10 triples surpassed Alex Dickerson’s nine in 2015 for the most single-season triples in Chihuahuas’ history.

Aaron Northcraft pitched six shutout innings in his first start since coming back from Double-A San Antonio.

Hunter Renfroe went 0-for-5, ending his 16-game hitting streak. Nick Noonan went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. The Chihuahuas collected 15 hits for the second consecutive night. El Paso has won three games in a row.

Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_07_19_mrbaaa_elpaaa_1&mode=gameday

Team Records: Memphis (45-50), El Paso (56-40)

Next Game: Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. vs. Memphis at Southwest University Park. Memphis RHP Jerome Williams (4-3, 5.04) vs. El Paso RHP Carlos Pimentel (9-4, 5.81). Game coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

El Paso 9 Memphis 2 – Tuesday

WP: Northcraft (4-0)

LP: Baker (1-2)

S: None

Time: 2:36

Attn: 6,901

The El Paso Chihuahuas scored multiple runs in each of their final four innings Monday to beat the Memphis Redbirds 11-5 at Southwest University Park. Frank Garces struck out eight Redbirds in 5.2 innings in his first start since June 23.

Hector Sanchez had two solo homers in the first four innings Monday to give El Paso an early 2-1 lead. Sanchez went 3-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch and now has seven home runs in his first 45 El Paso at bats.

Memphis inched close on multiple occasions but both Austin Hedges and Carlos Asuaje hit two-run, two-out doubles in the middle innings to keep the Chihuahuas in front. Hedges and Hunter Renfroe both homered in the win for El Paso.

The Chihuahuas had 15 hits in the win and remain on pace to narrowly break the modern Pacific Coast League team hits record, currently held by the 2000 Salt Lake Buzz. El Paso pitchers struck out 14 Redbirds, one shy of the 2016 single-game high.

The Chihuahuas have won two consecutive games and now sit in first place, 5.5 games ahead of second place Las Vegas with 49 games to go.

Gameday Box Score: http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_07_18_mrbaaa_elpaaa_1&mode=gameday

Team Records: Memphis (45-49), El Paso (55-40)

Next Game: Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. vs. Memphis at Southwest University Park. Memphis RHP Corey Baker (1-1, 7.71) vs. El Paso RHP Aaron Northcraft (3-0, 5.40). Game coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com

El Paso 11 Memphis 5 – Monday

WP: Garces (4-3)

LP: Mayers (3-3)

S: None

Time: 3:01

Attn: 7,040

Photos by Andres Acosta