Daniel Camarena got the win on Sunday. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
EL PASO — On yet another cool misty night, the Chihuahuas won their third straight game over the Sugar Land Skeeters 6 – 2. Daniel Camarena led a strong pitching performance and was backed by a balanced El Paso offensive attack.
After a rough initial return to Triple-A, Camarena picked up his second straight victory with five innings of two-run ball. The 28-year-old lefty gave up three hits and as many walks, while also striking out three. Camarena – who hit a grand slam for the big club on July 8, which now seems like a very long time ago – pitched in the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins organizations before signing with his hometown team as a minor league free agent last offseason.
With El Paso, he is 5-7 on the season with a 5.00 ERA in 77. 1 innings.
Evan Miller tossed a pair of scoreless innings, allowing just one hit before Nick Ramirez and James Norwood closed out the victory with clean innings.
Offensively, five batters had at least two hits each, led by Yorman Rodriguez, who hit his second home run in as many days as he made another appearance behind the plate. The 24-year-old has eight homers across three levels on the season, with four of his five Triple-A blasts against the Skeeters.
Robbie Podorsky adds speed and dynamism when he is in the lineup for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Robbie Podorsky, who went on the IL in late July, made his first start since he was activated on September 20. Podorsky picked right up doing Robbie Podorsky-like things, walking twice with a single and stolen base, while scoring two runs and playing flawless defense in left field.
He’s continued to battle injuries throughout the season, but is hitting .297/.355/.459 slash line in 124 plate appearances between San Antonio and El Paso.
Gosuke Katoh was 2-for-4 on the day and was back at second base after playing third base yesterday. In the past three games, he has reached base seven times.
“You can put him about anywhere on the field, but I think his best position might be second base,” his former manager Edwin Rodriguez told us earlier this summer.
“He is a very good athlete and shows some power – but his best tool is his versatility.”
As we noted yesterday, Katoh has put up a blistering September and has now pushed his slash line to .299/.385/.463 with 35 extra-base hits in 373 plate appearances.
Notes: The win gave the Chihuahuas their first series victory since June against Round Rock. El Paso sports the worst won-lost record in Triple-A West this year. … Luke Westphal will take the mound for the Chihuahuas’ final home game of the season Monday before the team flies to Oklahoma City for the final five games of the year.
