Chihuahuas Snap Losing Streak In Road Series Finale
Thursday night was the first road series finale for El Paso (1-6) against Tacoma (3-4) and one thing on the minds of Chihuahuas players and fans was seeking El Paso's second win of the season. Entering game three, El Paso was looking to avoid the sweep and got off to a great start.
The bats were flying early on in the third when Gettys reached first by way of an error and Vosler singling immediately after. That allowed Quiroz to crack the board after his single brought in Gettys. Seth Mejias-Brean, who had a huge three-hit game, followed up with a RBI single of his own and after Naylor's force out advanced both runners on base it was Ty France who brought in another run after a RBI single, making it 3-0 El Paso.
Cal Quantrill started for the Chihuahuas and delivered a solid 3 hit, 5.2 inning performance. The right-hander also registered 2 walks and 5 K's in the process with the first hit coming in the bottom of the third that resulted in Tacoma's first run against Quantrill after Eric Young Jr.'s triple brought in Shed Long that made it 3-1.
Things were pretty quiet from then up until the sixth when Gettys blasted a three-run shot that boosted El Paso's lead to five in a 6-1 score heading into the bottom half. Quantrill didn't give up his second and third hits until meeting up with Eric Young Jr., giving up a single and J.P. Crawford's double right after brought in the speedy Young Jr. making it 6-2. After an incredible catch by Josh Naylor in the bottom of the sixth, Phil Maton relieved Quantrill with one out left and retired the inning by striking out Jose Lobaton.
No offense from either team in the seventh resulted in zero runs each, however, Phil Maton continued his dominance by retiring the side in order with one K and two field outs. Carlos Torres replaced Maton after a quiet top of the eighth and it was two up, two down with one K until Eric Young, Jr. reached base on an error and J.P. Crawford's single advanced Young, Jr. to third. Crawford stole second base putting both runners in scoring position. Torres would strike out Curletta to close the inning.
The Chihuahuas didn't bark in top of the ninth inning by quickly going one, two, and three. El Paso native Fernando Rodriguez got the chance to close it out for the Chihuahuas in the bottom of the ninth after throwing a 2 inning, 4K and 0 hit performance in the first game of the series. Rodriguez quickly sent away Lobaton and Nola on strikes to make it 6K's on the season (2 on Thursday night and still no hits on his sheet) and Jose Pirela would collect the third out to give El Paso their second win on the year, beating Tacoma 6-2. Quantril (1-1) recorded his first win in 2019 and no saver despite an incredible showing from the bullpen.
El Paso (now 2-6) travels to Reno (3-5) next for their second road series of the season and you can catch it all beginning at 7:35 MT on the 600 ESPN El Paso App and of course on the airwaves on the 600 AM dial.