Chihuahuas blow 9-0 lead in two innings; fall 13-9 to Round Rock Express
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The El Paso Chihuahuas led Round Rock by as many innings as are played in a baseball. But in a span of less than two innings, that lead was gone.
The Chihuahuas catastrophically fell apart in the 5th and 6th innings, squandering a 9-0 lead over the Texas Rangers Triple AAA affiliate Saturday en route to a 13-9 loss against the Express.
After Brain O'Grady and Patrick Kivelhan hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the 4th, it appeared the game was won.
But the Express scored ten runs through the 4th, 5th , and 6th innings to erase the deficit, and shut out the Chihuahuas the rest of the way.
El Paso pitchers James Reeves and Aaron Northcraft gave up a combined ten earned runs in two innings of work. Shockingly, only one of those runs came via the home run.
The Express scores seven of their 13 runs off RBI singles.
O'Grady had his best game at the plate in a Chihuahuas uniform, falling a single short of the cycle to go with 3 RBIs.
The two teams will square off again on Sunday, with first pitch from Round Rock set for 5:05pm.
RHP Evan Miller (1-0, 2.00) gets the start for El Paso after a strong debut start against Oklahoma City last week in which he recorded four strikeouts. Former MLB starter and veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc starts for the Express.