Chihuahuas nip 'Cakes in series opener

Despite every starter contributing to a season-high 17 hits, the New Orleans Baby Cakes' nine runs came up one short in the first of a three-game series in El Paso, 10-9.
After Chihuahuas starter Jerry Keel got two quick outs in the top of the first, the 'Cakes rattled off three singles and a walk in their next four at-bats, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. Isan Diaz started the rally with a single, extending his hit streak to 13 games, the longest active run in the Pacific Coast League and tying with Matt Snyder for the longest by a New Orleans player this season.
Diaz scored on Brinson's single after a passed ball, and Brinson came around two batters later on Tyler Heineman's knock. Both Brinson and Heineman tallied three hits in the game and two RBI.
The 'Cakes tallied five doubles, one each from the top four hitters in the lineup (including Micah Brown, who replaced Yadiel Rivera in the fifth inning), who collectively went 9-for-20 with six runs and five RBI.
Starter Ben Meyer contributed to the cause with his first hit of the season, driving in Heineman in the fifth with a single.
Meyer allowed five runs on five hits with a pair of home runs. He issued a season-best one walk, after entering the game with the third most issued in the PCL.
The Chihuahuas used four home runs to pull out the victory, including three-run shots from Jose Pirela in the third and Ty France in the sixth, contributing to a four-run total in the frame off reliever Tommy Eveld. 
After rallying for a pair in the eighth to draw even off Andres Munoz, the 'Cakes gave up the lead for good in the bottom of the frame after Parker Bugg (0-2) gave up the fourth and final homer to Seth Mejias-Brean. Munoz (2-1) set New Orleans down in order in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
The 'Cakes and Chihuahuas meet Thursday at 8:05 pm Central in second of three game set. The game can be heard on radio on WODT SPORTS 1280 AM or cakesbaseball.com.