El Paso Edges Round Rock 2-1 in Pitcher’s Duel

EL PASO, Texas – The El Paso Chihuahuas (22-25) claimed a 4-2 series victory over the Round Rock Express (26-22) with a narrow 2-1 win in Tuesday night’s finale at Southwest University Park. The two teams combined for just 12 hits in the unusually low scoring affair in El Paso.

Round Rock reliever RHP Joe Gatto (0-2, 4.50) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout. El Paso RHP Sam McWilliams (2-1, 11.05) earned his second win of the series after a scoreless eighth inning of relief. Express starter RHP Tyson Miller allowed two hits and two walks while striking out a pair in 3.0 shutout frames.

The E-Train scored nearly immediately as LF Delino DeShields recorded a leadoff single in the first inning before moving to second on a Chihuahuas error then third on an ensuing Ryan Dorow groundout. A wild pitch by El Paso starter RHP Chase Johnson later allowed DeShields to race home with the game’s first run.

After Miller’s three shutout innings, the Chihuahuas plated their first run in the fourth thanks to a series of Express errors. SS Pedro Florimón led off with a single before advancing to second on a throwing error by LHP Sal Mendez. Florimón later took third on a throwing error by 1B Curtis Terry. Round Rock’s third miscue of the inning allowed Florimón to score as RF Ben Ruta took first on a missed catch error by Mendez.

E-Train RHP Collin Wiles then turned in 3.0 shutout innings of relief, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out four. With the game knotted at 1-1 and Gatto on the mound, El Paso manufactured a run in the bottom of the eighth to collect the victory. LF Tucupita Marcano kickstarted the rally with a walk, then 2B Matthew Batten singled to put runners on the corners. Gatto enticed CF Brian O’Grady into a groundball double play, however the relay left just enough time form Marcano to race home with the game-winning run.

El Paso RHP James Norwood silenced any chance of a Round Rock comeback with a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning of relief to collect his first save of the season and cement the 2-1 final.

After a league-wide off-day on Wednesday, the Express start a 12-game homestand with a six-game series against the Sugar Land Skeeters (Houston Astros affiliate) beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, July 1. Round Rock RHP Drew Anderson (3-3, 3.60) is scheduled to face Sugar Land LHP Ryan Hartman (2-2, 3.98) in the series opener.

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