After getting rained out in Colorado Springs, which has been a common theme this season for the El Paso Chihuahuas, they arrived home to face off against the Salt Lake Bees. Normally, a game between two division rivals separated by 9 games, is hardly a topic worth note... especially this far in the season. However, this rain shortened, mostly hot, but most recently cold, season has thrown more curve balls the Chihuahuas way than most pitchers can get away with.

El Paso came into Saturdays game, losing 13 out of the last 17 and with a magic number of 12 in order to clinch their second consecutive playoff birth. Standing on the hill for the Bees, two time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum, who had been optioned by the Angels to Salt Lake.

Lincecum, who has two No-Hitters to his name (both against the Chihuahuas parent club, the San Diego Padres), was taking on Chihuahuas pitcher Frank Garces. Both pitchers battled well, Lincecum giving up only 1 run through four innings, and Garces didn't give up a run until the 5th when a throwing error tied the game.

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Those would be the only runs scored in the game until a wild bottom of the 7th inning, when a Jose Rondon was able to plate Nick Torres with an RBI single. Then things got wild. As Rondon was on first, an attempted pick off throw from the catcher to first went to the outfield, bounced around in right, and Rondon was able to advance from first to third on one play. A few pitches later, a wild pitch went directly to the backstop and Rondon scored, going from first to home with out a hit or stollen base!

Sal Lake had a threat in the top of the 8th, however with runners on second and third, there was a light fly out that stranded the runners.

The Chihuahuas blew the game open when they Diego Goris scored two runs on his 10 double of the season.  El Paso would go on to win the game 5-1, improving to 67-60, staying 6.5 games ahead of the Albuquerque Isotopes who defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 7-2. (Current PCL Standings)

Lincecum pitched well, giving up one earned run through 6 strong innings, and El Paso's Frank Garces went pitch for pitch with the World Series Champion and Cy Young winner, pitching into the 6th allowing only one run. Garces helped pace the Chihuahuas pitching staff as he struck out 7, then the pen came in and added an additional 4 k's.

The Chihuahuas continue this home stand against the Salt Lake Bees through Tuesday August 23rd, to see the Chihuahuas in action buy your tickets here.

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