AirHogs Break Deadlock in Sixth, Top Captains 3-1 For Series Split

Published on June 30, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Tx.---Shreveport-Bossier managed just five hits in the final game of their four game series with the AirHogs, dropping the finale 3-1 and leaving Texas with a series split. Captains starter Joel Kirsten (3-4) threw 5.2 solid innings but Grand Prairie broke a 1-1 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth with two two-out runs that would turn out to be the difference in the game.

With two out and the bases empty in the sixth, AirHogs left fielder David Thomas hit a double. Kirsten was then lifted for Mark Haynes, who allowed an RBI double to center fielder Danny Figueroa to give the AirHogs the lead. David Espinosa would knock in Figueroa with a single to make it a 3-1 game.

Grand Prairie took an early lead when Espinosa led off the first with a single and scored on a one-out double by first baseman John Alonso. Kirsten would fight through early trouble, however, leaving the AirHogs with no runs and six men left on base from the second through the fifth innings.

Grand Prairie starter Lance Janke (1-0), who just joined the team Thursday and was making his independent ball debut after spending three plus years in the Cincinnatti Reds organization, held the Captains to one run on three hits in six innings. Janke walked one and struck out seven. Kirsten was nearly as good, allowing two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings, while walking two and striking out a season-high seven.

Shreveport-Bossier tied the game in the fifth. Palmer Karr Jr. led off the inning with a double and took third on Uriak Marquez's sacrifice bunt. Marquez would reach first safely when Janke made a throwing error on the bunt at first. When the next hitter, first baseman Joe Urtuzuastegui, struck out swinging, Marquez took off for second, drawing a throw from AirHogs catcher Chris McMurray and bringing Karr Jr. in to score on the stolen base. With one out, Brian Peterson grounded out to second, moving Marquez to third but Alex Cowart grounded out to third to end the inning.

Bo Schultz and Dustin Cameron through scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively for the 'Hogs, bringing Jon Hunton (Sv, 12) to the mound in the ninth a night after blowing his first save of the year. Hunton allowed a base hit to Bryan Sabatella to lead off the inning and a one-out base hit to Palmer Karr Jr. to put the tying run on. However, he got Uriak Marquez to hit into a 3-6-3 double play to end the game despite Karr Jr. sliding in hard at second to try to obfuscate the double play.

The Captains split the four-game set at QuikTrip Park, ending their seven-game road trip with a record of 3-4. At 24-21, Shreveport-Bossier falls to 6.5 out of first in the American Association South. The Captains open up a two-game home series against the Amarillo Sox Friday, July 1 at Fair Grounds Field for Military Appreciation Weekend sponsored by Landers Dodge and KTAL-6.

As part of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains' continued commitment to the men and women of the United States Military, the organization will honor those who have served our country. With proper military, DOD and VA identification, active duty and U.S. military veterans (including Reserve and Guard members and DOD civilian employees) will receive four free reserved admission tickets to either of the two games. It's also MetroPCS Youth League Night Friday, where young ballplayers can wear their uniforms to the game and get free admission if they are accompanied by a paid adult.

Season tickets and single-game tickets to the Captains are available for purchase in-person or over the phone by visiting the Captains Executive Offices at 2901 Pershing Boulevard at Fair Grounds Field or by calling (318) 636-5555. VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

For more information about season and individual game tickets, game times, promotions, marketing opportunities, full game schedule, and everything else Captains, visit the "Official Website of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains" by logging onto www.sbcaptains.com.

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American Association Stories from June 30, 2011


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