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SALT LAKE CITY — The El Paso Chihuahuas scored eight runs in the final two innings to open up a close game and defeat the Salt Lake Bees 12-1 on Saturday night at Smith’s Ballpark.
El Paso pounded out 12 hits on the night and improved to a league-best 52-37 on the season. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Bees, who dropped to 42-45 on the year.
The Chihuahuas wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the first, Jabari Blash hit a two-run ground rule double to make it 2-0. Two batters later, Nick Noonan, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
In the top of the third, Blash hit another RBI double over center fielder Nick Buss’ head that scored Austin Hedges and made it 4-0.
The Bees tried to get back into the game in the seventh. The first two batters reached but only one came across to score. Brendan Ryan scored on a one-out sacrifice fly to center by Buss that made it 4-1.
Despite having a runner on base in six of the nine innings, the one run was all the Bees' offense could muster. They stranded nine runners on the night and the Chihuahuas made them pay for it.
The Chihuahuas took advantage of the lack of offense by the Bees and showed why they are leading the league in team batting average.
El Paso sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored five runs on four hits, highlighted by a three-run double from Hector Sanchez that pushed the lead to 9-1. All five runs came with two outs in the inning.
It didn’t get any better in the ninth inning as Nick Torres hit a three-run homer over the left-field fence to put the final tally at 12-1.
The two teams will meet in the final game of the four-game set, which is also the final game before the All-Star break, Sunday at Smith’s Ballpark. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. Kyle McDonald is an avid sports fan, especially for the Chicago Cubs and the Utah Valley University Wolverines. He is currently a communication major at UVU and will graduate in the spring of 2017. Email him at kyleuvu2014@gmail.com
