Ankiel's Long Ball Beats Sidewinders

Published on June 1, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tucson Sidewinders News Release


Memphis, TN - Rick Ankiel hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Memphis Redbirds a 6-5 win over the Sidewinders on Thursday night at AutoZone Park. Ankiel's blast was his 12th of the year.

Jailen Peguero surrendered the home run to Ankiel and was tagged with his second loss of the year. Peguero (3-2) had allowed just two home runs all year coming into the game but allowed a solo home run to Edgar Gonzalez leading off in the eighth inning to tie the game at five before giving up Ankiel's homer in the ninth. Both home runs came on 0-2 pitches.

Tucson jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first as Danny Richar walked in front of back to back to back RBI doubles from Alex Romero and Jeff Salazar. Chris Carter added a RBI groundout. Memphis answered with three in the second on a RBI triple from Gonzalez and RBI singles by Travis Hanson and Skip Schumaker.

Brian Falkenborg earned the win in relief one night after taking his second loss of the season. Falkenborg (1-2) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit with a strikeout.

The Sidewinders squandered scoring opportunities in the second, third and fifth innings. Dave Krynzel led off with a single in the second and was sacrificed to second but was stranded there. Tucson had runners at first and second with no outs in both the third and fifth innings but did not score in either frame.

Memphis took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when pitcher Mike Parisi homered to right-center. The ball was originally ruled a double but was changed to a home run after the umpires huddled. Replays show the correct call was made as the ball hit over the fence and bounced back into the field of play.

Tucson scored twice in the top of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. Jamie D'Antona and Mark Johnson walked to open the inning and after Augie Ojeda's sacrifice bunt attempt forced D'Antona at third, Dave Krynzel ripped a double off the right field wall to plate Johnson with the tying run. Brian Barden was intentionally walked and Danny Richar delivered a sacrifice fly to left to give the Sidewinders the lead.

Krynzel was 2-3 with a RBI and a walk in his first game since being placed on the temporarily inactive list on April 19th.

The Sidewinders and Redbirds will wrap up their four game series on Friday night at AutoZone Park. Right-hander Adam Bass (3-1, 2.14) starts for Tucson against right-hander Anthony Reyes (0-0, 0.00) for Memphis. First pitch is at 5:10 Tucson time. The game will air live on COOL 1450 beginning at 5:05.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 1, 2007


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