Chihuahuas’ playoff chase comes down to Thursday’s game

league championship. tonight, the chihuahuas can keep their dream of winning a pacific coast league title alive. the game is being billed as the biggest in franchise history. abc-7’s darren hunt has been following their playoff chase closely. he’s live now. darren. rick, it was the diablos of 1994 that last won a championship here. the chihuahuas have a chance to be the only team since then to win a title, but first they must make the playoffs. “there’s a fly ball hit deep to left field … that ball has some height and distance … it’s outta here!” jason hagerty’s extra- inning home run wednesday night put the chihuahuas within striking distance of first place. they sit just a half game back of vegas going into tonight’s game against the pacific southern division defending champs. a victory would put el paso in the lead for the league’s final playoff spot with five games to play in the regular season. “how big is tonight’s game? “i mean tonight is almost wha the whole season comes down to.” steve kaplowitz is host of e-s-p-n el paso’s sportstalk. and he says despite the fact its almost football season, the chihuahuas playoff chase is the talk of the town. “utep doesn’t play at home unti much later in the month so really right now for el pasoans they still have a lot of baseball to talk about.” “how successful has this season already been? nearly 579-thousand fans came through these gates this season … 51 sellouts! and the chihuahuas can expect more sellouts, if they make the playoffs.” “you’re looking at nearly another 60-70,000 fans to the bottom line.” “i think this community, just a they’ve done over the past two years, will respond with great and exciting crowds and show that we are the best fans in minor league baseball.” chihuahua ownership aren’t the only ones hoping for some playoff games. san diego padres president and c-e-o mike dee told me the parent-club is watching the chase closely too. “is it important to you to se this team maybe win the division, get in the playoffs, maybe play in that triple-a national championship game?” “absolutely, i can tell you all of us in san diego follow our affiliates very closely and there’s not a morning that goes by that i don’t read the game report from the night before.” playoff tickets are already on sale on the chihuahuas web site and at the already on sale on the chihuahuas web site and at the ballpark box office. if they don’t make the playoffs your purchase will be applied to games next season. tonight’s big game in vegas can be heard live on our news partner station 600 e-s-p-n el paso. first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p-m. rick and estela. it was a bold move by the el paso i-s-d. and now two weeks into the