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AirHogs Survive to Beat Captains in 10

July 27, 2011 - American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. -- Without three regulars in the lineup, the Grand Prairie AirHogs used a combination of small ball and long ball on Wednesday night to outlast the Shreveport-Bossier Captains 7-5 in 10 innings at Fair Grounds Field, ending a season-high-tying four-game losing streak.

Jon Hunton (5-1), who blew his third save of the year in the ninth inning, worked around a leadoff walk in the 10th to retire the Captains (32-37), getting Joe Urtuzuastegui to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end it.

Hunton was given the lead again in the 10th on a throwing error by third baseman Andres Rodriguez on Guillermo Martinez's sacrifice bunt, which followed a leadoff single by Chris McMurray and a bunt single by Jake Taylor. Zane Chavez's sacrifice fly gave the AirHogs (43-25) their insurance run, and this time Hunton made it stand up.

In the ninth inning, David Espinosa hit a 3-2, two-out pitch from Mark Haynes (0-2) over the wall in right for his third homer of the year to give Grand Prairie a 5-4 lead, but Hunton hit Urtuzuastegui to start the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Captains hope. A sacrifice bunt and a single moved him to third with one out, and John Johnson beat out a potential game-ending double play grounder to tie the game.

The AirHogs had taken the lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by John Alonso against starter Ryan DiPietro, and answered single runs by the Captains in the first and third with runs in the third and seventh - David Thomas hitting his second home run this year off DiPietro in the seventh inning to make it 4-2.

But after Jason Jennings departed after seven strong innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight, Jon Fulton gave up a two-out, two-strike, two-run home run to Palmer Karr in the eighth inning to tie the game.

Notes: Cesar Nicolas did not play in the game after leaving Tuesday's contest with a re-aggravation of an elbow injury...The AirHogs had four sacrifice bunts in the game...Captains manager Vince Moore and catcher Brian Peterson were both ejected after the same play in the eighth inning - Moore by the third base umpire Danny Hymel and Peterson by home plate umpire Brad Williamson. On a bunt by Taylor, Peterson threw to second to try to get the lead runner, but the throw was high and Johnson had to jump to catch the ball. He came down on the bag, and Hymel at first appeared to start to signal out, but then ruled that McMurray running had gotten there first and called him safe...Espinosa's homer off Haynes was the first Haynes had allowed this year...Hunton has blown three saves in 19 chances, all against the Captains.

The AirHogs conclude their three-game series with the Shreveport-Bossier Captains on Thursday, July 28, at 7:05 p.m. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Friday, July 29, against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. for the second QuikTrip Night of the year. All fans can get a free ticket for that night at their local QuikTrip store. Teacher Appreciation Night, where all high school teachers get in for just $5. Don't miss the renewed commitment to excellence and affordable family entertainment. 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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