Chihuahuas top Tacoma 3-1

Matt Wisler made his best Triple-A start to date on Sunday, pitching seven innings without allowing an earned run in the El Paso Chihuahuas 3-1 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Monday. The 21-year-old Wisler retired the first 11 batters of the game and surrendered just two hits, striking out seven and walking one. Dennis O’Grady pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Hector Ambriz threw a perfect ninth for his second save in as many days.

Brooks Conrad hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to break a scoreless tie. Tacoma’s lone run came in the fourth when Ty Kelly doubled and later scored on an error by El Paso shortstop Jace Peterson. The error was El Paso’s first in the last ten games. Rocky Gale’s RBI single in the top of the ninth gave the Chihuahuas an insurance run. Gale went 3-for-4 in the win.

The Chihuahuas won four of the five games in Tacoma. El Paso’s recent wins coincide with first place Las Vegas losing eight of its last nine, helping the Chihuahuas gain 3.5 games in the standings in the last four days.

Team Records: El Paso (24-28) Tacoma (21-28)

WP: Wisler (1-3)

LP: Carraway (2-4)

S: Ambriz (3)

Time: 2:14

Attn: 3,538