An odd split with Ft Worth

Published on July 14, 2012 under North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


FORT WORTH - It began on Tuesday and ended late Friday night. After Abilene and Fort Worth played into the bottom of the third inning before the rain stopped play on Tuesday, they picked up where they left off on Friday. The Dogs squandered a late lead in game one, losing 5- 3, but returned with a 7-2 victory in a game two to earn the split.

Matt Larkins started the resumption of Tuesday's game and did not allow a run over five innings pitched, retiring. The rookie right-hander retired the first two batters in the eight before allowing a single Jon Dziomba. With the Dogs needing four more outs and clinging to a 3-2 lead, Bobby Brown called for Scott Vander Weg. The oft-used righty walked Chuck Caufield to put two runners on for Shelby Ford who capitalized on the opportunity. The switch hitter ripped a two- run triple into the left-center field gap and scored on an errant throw to third, helping the Cats take a 5-3 lead.

However, Abilene did not go quickly in the top of the ninth. With Jeff Jamnik on the hill, Jason Martin laced a single back through the middle, Wilson Batista singled to right, and Geraldo Valentin smoked one into center field to load the bases with no outs for Joe Weik. Jamnik, who has allowed just one earned run this season, threw the power hitter four consecutive off-speed pitches to earn the strikeout. And the second pitch he threw to Kyle Nichols resulted in a slow chopper to shortstop and a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Woods Fines, emerging from his best outing of the season on Sunday, started game two. The righty from North Carolina experienced a bumpy first inning, allowing three hits and a pair of runs, as his team fell behind early, 2-0.

But the Dogs bats proved timely in game two. Steve Barnes allowed a leadoff walk to Zach Crosswhite to start the top of the third and a single to Eddie Browne. The pair eventually moved into scoring position when Wilson Batista grounded out to first for the inning's second out. The next batter was Joe Weik who reached on an error by the shortstop, leading to Abilene's first run.

Still trailing 2-1, the Prairie Dogs used a hit-batter (Valentin) and a walk (Adam De La Garza) to ignite a fourth-inning rally. After a pair of strikeouts, Browne stung a two-run single into center field to boost the Dogs in front for the first time in the game, 3-2.

Fines worked around a jam in the fifth inning and stranded a pair of runners. The righty's final line reflected five innings, six hits, two runs, four walks, and four strikeouts.

Jason Martin put the game to bed in the top of the sixth inning when he walked to the plate with the bases loaded. Martin, who hit his only home run of the season on June 16 in Fort Worth, smashed a grand slam over the left field fence, launching the Dogs toward a 7-2 lead.

Gunner Glad tossed a pair of scoreless innings to assure the seven inning victory.

The same teams will clash in game 10 of the 11-game series on Saturday night in Fort Worth. Game time is 7:05 and you can hear the action beginning with the First Financial pregame show at 6:55 on 106.9 KLGD or on the internet at abileneprairiedogs.com.

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North American League Stories from July 14, 2012


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