Chihuahuas Chomp Dodgers Twice Sunday to Win Series

Game 1

El Paso Chihuahuas – 18

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 5

Game 2

El Paso Chihuahuas – 12

Oklahoma City Dodgers – 2

Sunday, July 3, 2022 – Southwest University Park – El Paso, Texas

Game 1 Summary: The El Paso Chihuahuas scored 14 runs in the resumption of a suspended game Sunday evening on the way to an 18-5 win against the Oklahoma City Dodgers at Southwest University Park. On Saturday, the teams played to a 4-4 tie through 4.5 innings before rain forced a delay of 1 hour, 28 minutes and eventually the suspension of the game. El Paso jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game’s first inning Saturday with a three-run homer by Kyle Martin. Ryan Noda and Jake Amaya hit back-to-back doubles in the second inning to get the Dodgers on the board. In the third inning, the Dodgers briefly took the lead when Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch hit back-to-back homers totaling three runs and putting OKC in front, 4-3. However, Robinson Canó answered with a home run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. When the game resumed Sunday night, the Chihuahuas scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs with two outs, including three on a bases-clearing double by C.J. Hinojosa to take a 9-4 lead. The Dodgers scored a run on a RBI double by James Outman in the sixth inning to cut El Paso’s lead to four runs. But the Chihuahuas added three more runs in the seventh inning before racking up six more runs in the eighth inning, including a three-run homer by Canó. Canó finished the game with six RBI as he and Hinojosa (four RBI) each recorded four hits for El Paso.

Game 2 Summary: The El Paso Chihuahuas grabbed a quick 4-0 lead in Sunday’s regularly-scheduled game as they went on to defeat the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 12-2, in seven innings at Southwest University Park. The Chihuahuas scored four runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Eguy Rosario. OKC’s Jason Martin then hit a solo home run in the second inning and the Dodgers went on to load the bases, but were unable to bring in another run. Rosario added a three-run homer in the third inning before Kyle Martin followed with a solo homer for an 8-1 Chihuahuas lead. Jake Amaya connected on a RBI single in the fourth inning for the Dodgers, but that would be OKC’s final run of the evening. The Chihuahuas added four more runs in the fifth inning all with two outs, including three straight bases-loaded walks for a 12-2 advantage. Rosario finished the game with five RBI for El Paso in the series finale between the teams.

Of Note:

-The 18 runs allowed by the Dodgers in the suspended game were the most runs scored by an opponent this season and the most allowed by an Oklahoma City team since a 19-9 loss June 18, 2019 also in El Paso. It was just the ninth time in the team’s Bricktown era (since 1998) that an opponent scored 18 or more runs in a game.

-El Paso then scored 12 more runs in the regularly-scheduled game. After allowing an opponent to score double-digit runs just once in a 25-game span from May 31-June 28, the Dodgers have now allowed double-digit run totals in three straight games (41 total runs) as well as in four of the last five games as El Paso scored 14 runs Wednesday, 11 runs Friday then 18 runs in the suspended game and 12 more runs in the regularly scheduled game Sunday…This is the first time in the Bricktown era (since 1998) that an Oklahoma City team has allowed 11 or more runs in three straight games.

-OKC’s 13-run margin of defeat in the suspended game was a season-high for OKC and the largest margin of defeat for OKC since a 14-0 loss Aug. 11, 2018 against Memphis in OKC.

-El Paso racked up 19 hits in the suspended game. It was the second time in four games the Chihuahuas had 19 hits in a game after they also hit the mark Wednesday night. Prior to Wednesday, the last time an opponent had that many hits against OKC was Aug. 3, 2018 in Tacoma.

-After play resumed in the suspended game Sunday, El Paso went a combined 23-for-52 (.442) with 26 runs and 13 walks in 10 total innings over the two games, including 12-for-23 with runners in scoring position. El Paso went an incredible 11-for-21 with two outs and scored 19 runs…In contrast, OKC went 9-for-41 overall with three runs scored in 11 innings of play Sunday.

-With two losses Sunday following a loss Friday night, the Dodgers have now suffered three straight losses, including their first back-to-back losses since a three-game skid May 26-27. Prior to this weekend, the Dodgers had followed up each of their nine previous losses with a win.

-El Paso scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning of the suspended game and added four more runs in the first inning of the regularly scheduled game. Opponents have now scored in either the first or second inning in each of the last 10 games. Over the 10-game stretch, the Dodgers have allowed 29 total runs over the first two innings (20 innings). During the series in El Paso, the Chihuahuas scored 19 runs within the first two innings (12 innings).

-Michael Busch homered in the suspended game and has now homered in five of his last 12 games and seven of his last 17 games. He has nine home runs with Oklahoma City and 20 home runs overall this season to lead the Dodgers minor league system.

-With home runs in both games, the Dodgers have now homered in 18 of the last 20 games (28 HR) and in 24 of the last 27 games (38 HR)…Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch hit back-to-back homers in the suspended game, which were the sixth back-to-back homers hit by OKC this season and second of the series in El Paso after Busch and Jason Martin went back-to-back June 28…On the other hand, the Dodgers have allowed 12 home runs over the last six games and allowed back-to-back home runs for the fourth time this season in the regularly scheduled game.

-With two wins Sunday, the Chihuahuas also won the six-game series against Oklahoma City, 4-2, and trimmed the Dodgers’ lead atop the PCL East Division to three games ahead of second-place El Paso…The Dodgers suffered just their second series loss of the season after winning five straight series.

-Jason Martin homered in the regularly-scheduled game Sunday and now has five homers in his last six games and six homers in his last eight games. His 16 home runs with OKC this season are most on the team. He hit safely in both games, going a combined 3-for-7 with a homer and double.

-Miguel Vargas went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI in the suspended game to extended his hitting streak to a season-best 14 games, but his streak stopped there as he was then held 0-for-3 in the regularly scheduled game. During the hitting streak, Vargas went 23-for-56 (.411) with three home runs, seven doubles, 14 RBI, eight walks and 13 runs scored. The streak is tied with Jake Lamb’s 14-game hitting streak for the longest by an OKC player this season.

What’s Next: The OKC Dodgers return home for an Independence Day celebration at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and open a six-game home series at 7:05 p.m. Monday against the Las Vegas Aviators. The evening will be filled with special patriotic festivities and fireworks will follow the game.

The July Fourth Block Party presented by Newcastle Casino will take place on the Mickey Mantle Plaza from 5-7 p.m. and feature a live DJ and Clark Crew BBQ. A special combo meal that includes a Clark Crew BBQ pulled pork sandwich, bag of chips, cookie and a bottle of water will be available for purchase with net proceeds benefitting the OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation. A Hot Dog Eating Contest presented by Schwab Meat Co., will also take place during the block party.

Tickets are available at okcdodgers.com/tickets. Live radio coverage of each OKC Dodgers game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps. All OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.