EL PASO — Tonight, the Chihuahuas didn’t have to come back; a two-run home run blast by C.J. Hinojosa in the second inning followed by a three-run shot by Brent Rooker provided more than enough to send them to their third straight win over the Texas Rangers’ affiliate the Round Rock Express 7-1.
Pedro Avila turned in another strong outing for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Tonight, El Paso got four solid innings from right-hander Pedro Avila and their bullpen once again delivered a dominant performance. In the past three games, the Chihuahuas’ bullpen has given up a total of one run in 16.1 innings, with only lefty Tom Cosgrove – who appeared in two contests – making a return to the mound.
In addition to the pair of home runs, Taylor Kohlwey had another strong night with three hits, including his 22nd double. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is having his best year and sitting atop the Pacific Coast League in batting average at .329, with a .427 on-base percentage and a .516 slugging percentage.
“I’m not sure if I am really doing anything differently this season,” said Kohlwey before the game about his success. “Another year of experience always helps, but I have been trying to be more aggressive earlier in the count and a big goal of mine coming into the season was to have more walks than strikeouts.”
Currently, Taylor has 43 walks against 45 strikeouts in 322 plate appearances.
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Eguy Rosario stayed hot with a pair of hits and a walk to push his July line up to .400/.492/.742 with eleven of his 20 hits going for extra-bases. Last month, the 5-foot-9 righty, whose body is that of an NFL strong safety, slashed .288/.368/.625 with eight home runs.
As his manager, Jared Sandberg noted in last night’s post-game interview, when Eguy stays in the strike zone, he is an extremely dangerous hitter.
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C.J. Hinojosa has really hit in June and July. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Hinojosa has also started to hit; after struggling in April (.235) and May (.171), Hinojosa hit .296/.347/.421 in June, and in July, his five home runs are more than he hit in the previous three months combined as he is slashing .333/.339/.648 in 55 plate appearances.
The Padres signed him as a minor league free agent from the Astros organization, where he put solid numbers, hitting .316/.351/.481 for Triple-A Sugar Land. This season for El Paso, he has seen time at second, third, and shortstop.
Notes: Center Fielder Jose Azocar made his Triple-A debut for 2022 tonight after being sent down by the big club and was hitless in five trips to the plate with three strikeouts. … The Chihuahuas now are tied with the OKC Dodgers for the lead in the PCL East with a record of 52 and 37 and have won seven of their last ten games.
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