AirHogs Split Twinbill in KC, Rubber Match Tomorrow
August 21, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Texas AirHogs News Release
KANSAS CITY, Kansas - The AirHogs split a doubleheader with the Kansas City T-Bones at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Saturday, winning a contest that was suspended due to weather Friday 6-3 before falling in walkoff fashion 4-3. The AirHogs and T-Bones began the series Friday, with the AirHogs jumping out to a 3-2 lead before play was suspended due to a heavy storm in the 4th. Play resumed Saturday evening in the bottom of the 4th with Tyler Ihrig taking the place of Diego Ibarra, Friday's starter, on the mound. Ihrig was strong in the quasi-start, firing 4 innings of 1-run ball and retiring 9 of the last 10 he faced (7 in a row) to hold the contest at 3-3 going to the 8th.
The AirHogs bats seized control of the contest in the top of the 8th, scoring 3 times on 4 hits and 2 walks against Johnny Shuttlesworth, who picked up where Mike Kickham left off Friday. Cory Morales, Mike Miller, and Kenny Peoples-Walls picked up RBIs in the frame to build a 3-run advantage that was held by Tyler Harris and Alan Oaks in the final 2 innings. By pitching a scoreless 9th, Oaks earned his 6th save. The win was the 2nd of the season for Ihrig.
Carlos Misell got the start for the AirHogs in Game 2 and was solid, going 6 innings in his 6th start of the year. His offense built him a 2-run lead in the 4th in a frame highlighted by doubles from Leon Byrd and Devon Rodriguez. Rodriguez finished with 5 hits in the 2 contests, surpassing 100 for the season.
The T-Bones got home runs from Anthony Gallas and Vladimir Frias in the 5th to seize the advantage only to have the AirHogs tie the contest in the 6th on the 2nd sacrifice fly RBI of the game by Brian Bistagne. Michael Hur, who led the frame off with a double, scored for a 2nd time. All 6 AirHogs hits off Kansas City starter Jordan Cooper were doubles.
In the 7th and final frame, Frias led off with a walk against reliever Karraker. After he moved to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on a base hit by Tyler Massey that was misplayed in left field. Frias finished with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in the twinbill.
Karraker took his 1st loss in Game 2, while Mark Haynes, who pitched a scoreless top of the 7th, picked up his 1st win. The AirHogs (29-56) and the T-Bones (39-46) will settle the series in a rubber match tomorrow at 1:05. LHP Griffin Russell is expected to start on the mound for the AirHogs.
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