El Paso's Grand Slam in Eighth Sends Chihuahuas to 9-4 Triumph

Albuquerque, NM – With El Paso clinging to a one run lead in the eighth, the Chihuahuas’ Brandon Dixon connected on a grand slam to send the visitors to a 9-4 lead Thursday night at Isotopes Park.

Offensively, the Isotopes tallied six hits, one homer and one double. Wynton Bernard and D.J. Peterson each had two hits. Sam Hilliard tallied a solo dinger. Jimmy Herron recorded the sixth hit.

The Chihuahuas took a 3-0 lead in the second, including a two-run homer from Luis Liberato.

After four scoreless innings, the Isotopes tied the game with three runs in the sixth after drawing four walks and recording two singles.

However, El Paso retook the lead, 4-3, in the top of the seventh inning when Matt Dennis balked a run home. But their lead didn’t last long as Hilliard hit a solo shot to tie the game, 4-4, that travelled 477 ft. and left the bat at 114 MPH.

The back-and-forth tilt continued as the Chihuahuas plated five runs in the eighth to take a 9-4 lead, including a grand slam by Brandon Dixon.

Zach Neal did not factor into the decision after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing three runs on five hits, three walks and one homer with four punchouts. Dennis was charged with the loss after allowing five runs over 1.2 innings.

Topes Scope: - Hilliard’s home run in the seventh inning tied the franchise record for homers in a season that was set in 2019 (212).

-Neal threw the Isotopes 15th quality start of the year and his third. The last Isotopes pitcher to throw a quality start was Riley Smith on July 7 at Round Rock.

-The Isotopes are currently on a four-game losing streak, their fifth time this season with at least a four-game skid.

-Albuquerque has now lost eight in-a-row at Isotopes park—tied for the longest skid at home in franchise history (June 17-28, 2016). During the streak they have been outscored 87-33.

-The Isotopes have now lost nine-straight to El Paso—the longest losing streak to the Chihuahuas in franchise history.

-Bernard recorded his team-leading 37th multi-hit effort. He also stole his 29th base of the year, he has been caught just twice this season.

-Herron drew two walks for just the second time this season. He also reached base three times for the first time as an Isotope.

-Hilliard also recorded the Isotopes 15th outfield assist of the year and sixth at second base. It was Hilliard’s third of the year.

-Peterson tallied his 18th multi-hit effort of the year and his first since August 19 at Tacoma.

-Dixon’s grand slam was the eighth allowed by the Isotopes this year.

-The Isotopes have allowed at least five runs in an inning 33 times this year.

-Dennis allowed five runs in a game for the first time since May 20 at Salt Lake.

On Deck**:** The Isotopes and Chihuahuas will play game five of the series Friday at 5:35 pm. Karl Kauffmann is scheduled to start for Albuquerque while El Paso is slated to start Jesse Scholtens.