Chihuahuas Top Chasers with 6-3 Extra-Inning Win

Duenez clubs game-tying HR in 8th after McGrath fires 7 perfect frames

Omaha 1B Samir Duenez slammed a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning of the Storm Chasers' 6-3 defeat in ten innings on Sunday afternoon. (Minda Haas Kuhlmann)

June 9, 2019

Storm Chasers first baseman Samir Duenez mashed a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning after El Paso starter Kyle McGrath set down the first 21 batters he faced, however the Chihuahuas plated three tallies in the tenth inning of a 6-3 extra-inning win over Omaha on Sunday afternoon at

Storm Chasers first baseman Samir Duenez mashed a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning after El Paso starter Kyle McGrath set down the first 21 batters he faced, however the Chihuahuas plated three tallies in the tenth inning of a 6-3 extra-inning win over Omaha on Sunday afternoon at Werner Park.

McGrath (7.0+ IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) was stellar in his first seven frames, setting down each of the first 21 batters he faced, including six strikeouts, though he ultimately did not factor in the decision. The Storm Chasers were unable to get a baserunner until LF Jorge Bonifacio bashed a line-drive single into center field to begin the seventh inning.
After Bonifacio's base hit, RF Bubba Starling laced a single to center before Duenez drove both home with a three-run shot to right, evening the contest at 3-3. The Chihuahuas would plate three in the top of the tenth, two courtesy of DH Aderlin Rodriguez 's homer to right, to top Omaha. El Paso also scored the first three tallies of the game, highlighted by LF Michael Gettys's two-run shot in the second frame.
Chihuahuas RF Jose Pirela (2-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI) and 3B Seth Mejias-Brean (2-3, R, 2 BB) each recorded two knocks, with Rodriguez and Gettys each driving in two runs as well. No Storm Chasers batter posted more than one hit in the contest. Prior to Sunday's matchup, Omaha was the only full-season team in either Major League or Minor League Baseball to have not played an extra-inning contest in 2019.
Neither McGrath nor Omaha starter Foster Griffin (5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) factored in the final decisions. Chihuahuas Ty Maton (2.0 IP, H, BB, 4 K) earned the win, while Storm Chasers righty Kyle Zimmer (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, K) suffered the loss.
Omaha and El Paso are set to finish off their series with a Monday matinee. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05pm CT. RHP Scott Blewett (4-5, 6.41) is anticipated to start for the Storm Chasers, with LHP Logan Allen (4-2, 4.99) slated to get the nod for the Chihuahuas.
Tickets for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers home contests can be purchased online at www.omahastormchasers.com, or by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office from noon until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at (402) 738-5100.