AirHogs Bats Break out to Salvage Series

Published on August 18, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- The Grand Prairie AirHogs broke out of their recent slump, crushing three home runs and batting around in each of the first two innings en route to a 12-5 win over the Fort Worth Cats, salvaging the final game of their four-game series in front of a big crowd of 5,248 at QuikTrip Park.

The Cats (41-47) did score first, as they did in all four games of the series, getting an RBI fielder's choice by Marcos Rodriguez in the first off Josh Rainwater (13-6). But Grand Prairie (56-34) answered with four in the bottom of the inning against Aaron Cunningham (4-9).

After Stephen Douglas struck out to start the inning, German Duran hit his first homer in a Grand Prairie uniform to tie the game. David Espinosa walked and Joey Gomes then singled, before John Alonso's RBI double gave the AirHogs the lead. A two-run single by David Thomas capped that inning, before the AirHogs went right back to work in the second.

Douglas led off with a triple this time, and scored on Duran's pop-fly single over the drawn-in infield. A single and an error put runners at second and third, before Cunningham was lifted for James Brandhorst, who promptly walked Joey Gomes to load the bases. Up stepped John Alonso, and he unloaded them with a grand slam to left-center, his team-leading 12th home run of the season.

Rainwater allowed three runs in the third but only one baserunner after that, as the righty working on three day's rest finished six frames, allowing six hits, four runs (three earned) and a walk with four strikeouts.

Grand Prairie got one more run on an Espinosa sacrifice fly in the third and their final two on Thomas's 11th homer of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth.

Notes: The AirHogs finished the season series against the Cats with an 8-6 record...Rainwater is 3-0 against Fort Worth...All the runs and RBIs for Grand Prairie came from the first six spots in the batting order, with Alonso and Thomas combining for six hits and nine RBIs...The AirHogs have allowed the game's first run seven straight times - all in the first two innings...The Cats' seven-game win streak was snapped...The AirHogs tied their franchise record with their 56th win of the year. Grand Prairie went 56-40 in 2008.

The AirHogs conclude their four-game series with the Fort Worth Cats on Thursday, August 18 at 7:05 p.m. at QuikTrip Park. It is Thirsty Thursday, featuring $2 16-ounce beers, and the AirHogs will be playing in special Miller Lite jerseys that will be raffled off during the game to be awarded right off their backs at the game's conclusion. It is also City of Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Night. All games are available with live, free streaming video on ustream.tv. Individual game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 972-504-9383 or by visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com.

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