Chihuahuas 6, Las Vegas Aviators 5
Closer Austin Davis hung on in a wild ninth inning. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Key Statistics: 3B-2B Matthew Batten 1-for-4, HR (10), RBI; 2B-CF Clay Dungan 1-for-3, BB, CF-LF Connor Hollis 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB; RHP Matt Waldron (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR; RHP Ethan Routzahn 1.1 IP, K; RHP Logan Gillaspie 1 IP K; LHP Austin Davis (S, 14) IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), K
For his third straight season, Matthew Batten has hit 10 or more home runs for El Paso. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Prospect Watch: The Chihuahuas claimed their tenth straight victory, but it didn’t come easily. Down 3-0 in the fifth inning, El Paso scored three times to tie the game and added three more to go into the ninth with a 6-3 lead. Then things got interesting. The Aviators opened the inning with a double off closer Austin Davis. The lefty followed with a strikeout, then hit a batter, setting up an RBI single to cut the deficit to two. A liner to shortstop Eguy Rosario put the Chihuahuas one out away, but a throwing error by Matthew Batten on a tough chance at second plated a run and put the winning runs in scoring position. Third baseman Jose Sanabria finally ended it, catching a foul pop as he crashed into the dugout rail, helping Davis to his 14th save of the year. … With the win, the Chihuahuas become the first Padres affiliate to stretch a winning streak to double-digits on the year and move within two of the club’s all-time record set in 2019. … Starter Matt Waldron cruised except for one knuckleball that didn’t move, which Brett Harris turned around for a three-run home run. Waldron rebounded nicely from there, setting down the final four batters he faced, three by strikeout. In picking up his first win since his demotion, the former Cornhusker struck out five and got seven groundball outs. He finishes his stint with El Paso with a 4.58 ERA in four starts with a 17:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 19.2 innings while holding the opposition to a .234 batting average. … Since Luis Campusano arrived from San Diego, El Paso hasn’t lost. After a 1-for-4 night, he has 13 hits in eight games, including a pair of doubles and a home run. More importantly, team officials have praised him for his positive attitude and ability to work with the pitching staff in a challenging situation. … Last Sunday, Rosario tied Cody Decker as the all-time home run leader for El Paso. He’s gone homerless since, so Sunday will be what he undoubted hopes is his last chance to surpass the record as the Chihuahuas try to close out the season with an 11th straight victory.
