Air Hogs Smash Navarro and Pelicans 17-4; Hogs Hit Four Homers

August 4, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


The Air Hogs walked all over the Pelicans on Tuesday night, winning 17-4. Despite the loss, Pensacola remains in second place, a game behind the Captains in the South Division standings. As much as Grand Prairie lit up Pelicans starter Jason Navarro, hitting four home runs, the Pelicans defense contributed to the loss, committing five errors. Pensacola initially provided a lead for Navarro, scoring two runs in the first inning.

Kevin Reynolds led off the game with a walk on four straight pitches by Matt Green. After a beautiful sacrifice bunt by Franciso Leandro, Reynolds moved up to second. He stole third on a swinging strike three by Chase Burch, but the throw from the catcher went into left field and Reynolds came home to score the first run of the game. The next batter was Antoin Gray. Gray smoked a ball over the left field fence for his twelfth home run of the season.

Grand Prairie's Cesar Nicolas hit a solo bomb of his own in the bottom of the first, but the big runs came in the bottom of the second, when Daniel Berg hit a grand slam, the second in as many days for the Air Hogs in Grand Prairie. Tucker also had a RBI single to put the Air Hogs up 6-2.

Pensacola cut into the lead with a run in the top of the third, scoring Leandro on a RBI single by Marcos Rodriguez. Leandro originally reached via base hit, and moved into scoring position following a single by Burch and a walk by Gray.

Grand Prairie continued rolling, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the third, two of them coming on a two run homer by Javier Brito. Errors plagued the Pels in the frame, as the second baseman committed two blunders, the shortstop erred, and the right fielder slipped up as well.

The Air Hogs added another four runs in the fourth with a solo home run by Chad Gabriel, a two RBI single by Aaron Garza, and scoring Tucker from third on a passed ball.

Joey Wedner relieved Jason Navarro to start the bottom of the fifth. Navarro lasted four innings, giving up 14 runs (nine earned), on 13 hits, striking out one. Navarro didn't walk anybody, but he did hit two batters with pitches. Wedner gave up two hits, but after Nicolas touched the ball on Conroy's single, Wedner induced Gabriel to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Grand Prairie picked up their final three runs in the sixth inning, however, when Cesar Nicolas added three more RBI to his league-lead, scoring Holder, Garza, and Berg with a double. Wedner responded in the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning, and then deferred to Dallas Christison.

Dallas Christison made his first professional appearance as a pitcher, tossing a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, bringing up the Pelicans in the top of the ninth. Matt Green finished the perfect game for the ‘Hogs, but not before Marcos Rodriguez hit a leadoff single, and Adam Darby plated him with a double.

For the Pelicans at the plate, Marcos Rodriguez went 2-4 with a RBI. Antoin Gray went deep, Adam Darby had a RBI double, and Lou Palmisano went 2-4. Francisco Leandro went 1-2, putting down a sacrifice bunt, walking, and scoring.

Following the game, the Pelicans released Lester Contreras. On Wednesday, Dane DaValk will start for the Pelicans as they face the Air Hogs at 7:05 p.m.



American Association Stories from August 4, 2009


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