Patrick Kivelhan had another solid night for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Sugar Land Skeeter, Chihuahuas 2
Key Stats: RHP Nick Kuzia, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; LF Patrick Kivlehan, 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI; SS Matt Batten, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; C Michael Cantu, 1-for-3, 2B, R
Matt Batten has hit .302 for El Paso this season. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The final homestand of the season kicked off at Southwest University Park, with the Chihuahuas hosting Sugar Land in an unusually late series due to schedule changes at Triple-A. El Paso jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a Patrick Kivlehan solo home run. For Kivlehan, it was his 20th big fly in only 300 Triple-A at-bats this season. Between injury, a brief stint with the Padres, and playing in the Olympics in Tokyo, Kivelhan was limited to 80 games with the Chihuahuas, but has been red hot in September, slashing .327/.404/.510 in 49 at-bats. … El Paso extended the lead in the bottom of the 3rd on a double courtesy of Matt Batten. The 26-year-old Batten is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, and is batting .295 for the year, including a .302 average for El Paso since joining the team from San Antonio in mid-May. … Batten’s double scored Michael Cantu, who had reached base on a two-bagger of his own. Cantu, signed by the Padres after the 2017 draft, debuted for El Paso in a six-game stint in 2019 before spending the 2021 season with the Chihuahuas. He has split time between 34 appearances behind the plate, seven at first base, and four as a DH. The double was his second of the season to go with three home runs and has 19 RBI. … Tonight’s game was the second Triple-A appearance for Nick Kuzia, and the 25-year-old righty threw a scoreless inning of relief. Kuzia, also an undrafted free agent from 2017, has a 4-8 record and 3.33 ERA in 48.2 innings, primarily with Double-A San Antonio. He has also pitched to a 1.17 WHIP and 65:25 K: BB in 39 appearances.
Michael Cantu hit his second double of the season. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Roster Move: The Padres released RHP Parker Markel yesterday. The 30-year-old Markel spent all season with El Paso after signing as a minor league free agent in the offseason. In 41 appearances for the Chihuahuas, Markel posted a 3-2 record and 4.42 ERA with 91 strikeouts against 45 walks in 57 innings.
