AirHogs Sweep Captains in Doubleheader 12-0, 4-3

Published on August 26, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La.---Grand Prairie rightfielder Stephen Douglas went 4-for-4 in game two and 6-for-8 in the doubleheader as the AirHogs beat the Captains 12-0 and 4-3 to take both games of the twin bill at Fair Grounds Field Thursday night.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two, Captains pitcher Osvaldo Rodriguez hit a pinch-hit RBI double to score Jonathan Johnson and cut the AirHogs lead to one but it wasn't enough as Jon Hunton (Sv, 23) came in in the seventh and shut the Captains down in order.

Johnson, who was 3-for-6 in the doubleheader, led off the bottom of the first in game two with a base hit off AirHogs starter Lance Janke (W, 6-3). He stole second base, tagged up to third on Mike Provencher's fly out and scored on a wild pitch to give Shreveport-Bossier the early lead.

In the second, Brian Peterson hit an infield single and took two bases on Janke's throwing error. With two outs, Joe Urtuzuastegui on first and the pitcher Josh Strawn at the plate, Peterson broke for home on a double steal and scored before Urtuzuastegui was tagged out in a run down, giving the Captains the 2-0 lead.

But Grand Prairie would reclaim the lead in the third with three runs on five hits off Strawn (L, 3-3). David Espinosa's RBI single got the AirHogs on the board and Cesar Nicolas' sacrifice fly tied the game. Espinosa would reach third on a Joey Gomes single and score on rightfielder Chad Gabriel's fielding error.

The Captains threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with one out, but Urtuzuastegui struck out and then Strawn grounded out to second to end the threat. In the fifth, Shreveport-Bossier put runners on second and third with one out but Provencher was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to third and Andres Rodriguez flew out to end the inning.

A Nicolas double, put Grand Prairie up by two. In the last of the sixth against AirHogs reliever Jon Fulton, Urtuzuastegui walked with two outs and came all the way home on Osvaldo Rodriguez's pinch-hit double to left to make it 4-3. In the seventh against Hunton, Provencher would leg out an infield hit but Gabriel hit into a double play and Karr popped out to end the game.

Janke gave up just two runs on six hits in five innings while striking out seven and walking three. Captains starter Strawn allowed a season-high 13 hits and four runs in six innings while walking one and striking out two. Hector Carrasco made his fourth scoreless appearance of the homestand, throwing a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

Provencher was 2-for-4 in the game two loss. He also had a hit in game one, extending his hitting streak to a total of 17 games.

Game one of the twin bill was as much a blowout as game two was close. The AirHogs got to Captains starter Alex Cowart (L, 0-1) for four runs (one earned) in the second and he lasted only 1.2 innings, giving up two hits while walking four.

Douglas was 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. Greg Porter went 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and two walks. Chris McMurray was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

McMurray's RBI double put Grand Prairie on the board in the second. An error by Captains second baseman Provencher allowed to runs to score. Then with two outs, Lee Henry walked Porter with the bases loaded to make it 4-0. An RBI single by Douglas and a German Duran sacrifice fly put the AirHogs up by six after two and a half.

They would pull away with four more runs in the fourth to go up 10-0 and add two more in the fifth. The Captains managed just three baserunners and two hits in seven innings against Bo Schultz (W, 4-3) and Craig James. Schultz threw six innings, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out four and walking only one.

The end of game one saw a number of defensive changes for the Captains with players taking the field at unusual positions. Joe Urtuzuastegui made his second appearance on the pitcher's mound this summer. He was the Captains most effective pitcher in the game, throwing two scoreless innings. Chad Gabriel made his first appearance at first, while Mike Provencher moved to catcher and veteran catcher Brian Peterson moved to second base. Peterson turned a 4-3 double play and caught a line drive in the sixth inning.

With the two defeats, the Captains fell to 44-51 on the season and 27-22 at Fair Grounds Field. The AirHogs became the first team to win 60 games, improving to 61-35 and 30-19 on the road. Grand Prairie has handed the Captains their two largest margins of defeat at home this season, with the 12-0 loss in game one and a 15-2 win at Fair Grounds Field earlier this year on June 20.

The Captains conclude the home portion of their schedule Friday, Aug. 26 at 7:05 p.m. against Grand Prairie. The Captains will send righthander Alex Kaminsky (7-2, 5.60) to the mound against Grand Prairie's Jason Jennings (9-2, 3.88). It's Fan Appreciation Night, where the first 500 fans will receive a souvenir Captains' Pirate Hat courtesy of 1st Choice Personnel. The first 500 fans will also receive a coupon for a free cookie courtesy of McAlister's Deli Youree Drive Location. Fans will also have a chance to win prizes throughout the game. The evening also includes metroPCS Youth League Night and Buffalo Wild Wings "Kids' Run the Bases".

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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