Another Clutch Marquez Hit Sends Captains Into First

Published on June 18, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


Uriak Marquez delivered another clutch hit for the Shreveport-Bossier Captains Thursday night, driving in Andres Rodriguez from second base in the eighth inning with a single, breaking a 3-3 tie against the Forth Worth Cats. The hit proved to be the game-winner, sending the Captains to a 4-3 victory in front of 1,327 fans at Fair Grounds Field and into sole possession of first place in the South Division by one game after the Grand Prairie AirHogs lost to Lincoln.

Although he got a no-decision, rookie starter Cody Kelley shrugged off a rough opening inning and left with the lead in his first professional outing. The righty from Delta State University allowed a hit to Brian Fryer to start the game, and then Jeremy Sauceda doubled to the track in left-center to put the Cats (13-19) in front for the second straight day. After a walk to John Allen, Kelley settled down, getting a popout and two strikeouts to end the first.

The Captains (19-13) came right back with a run in the bottom of the inning against righty Jason Fernandez. With two outs, Christopher Garcia walked and Palmer Karr hit a long double to left-center to tie the game. After an inning-ending double play with runners at first and third in the second, Bryan Sabatella hustled out a double to left-center to start the bottom of the third. Jovanny Rosario tried to bunt him over but ended up reaching on a bunt single, although Sabatella had to stay put at second.

After another walk to Garcia loaded the bases, Karr bounced into a 6-4-3 double play, but Sabatella scored to give Shreveport-Bossier the lead. Andres Rodriguez then singled up the middle to make it 3-1, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Kelley got out of a two-hit second inning when Rosario threw out Brenan Herrera at the plate on a single by Sauceda to end the frame, and then retired the next nine Cats in a row. But Allen led off the sixth with a double, and scored on a two-out double by Kelley Gulledge. Marcus Salmon then relieved the rookie, and got Stantrel Smith to foul out to catcher Brian Peterson on the first pitch to get out of the inning.

After Salmon pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Cody Railsback (2-0) allowed the tying run to score after a bout of wildness in the eighth. Sauceda reached on an error to start the inning, and Railsback walked Allen and Rob Recuenco (who was trying to bunt) to load the bases. Michael Bell bounced one to short that tied the game, as Bryan Frichter stepped on second and threw to first wildly trying to complete a double play. But Rodriguez played the carom well at first and wheeled and threw home to get Allen to complete an unconventional twin killing. Railsback then got Gulledge on a groundout (with a great play by Joe Urtuzuastegui at third - who had made the error earlier in the inning) to end the frame and keep the game tied.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Rodriguez singled to right-center off Gary Lee (2-1), and moved to second on Frichter's infield single. That set the stage for Marquez, who came into the game hitting .350 with runners in scoring position.

Once the Captains had the lead, Hector Carrasco continued his impressive start to his Captains career, getting a popout and two grounders to pick up his second save and third straight perfect inning in the series, closing out the first Captains sweep of the season.

Notes: The Captains went down 1-2-3 in the fourth, the first time in 18 innings (since the first inning on Tuesday) that they had gone down in order and failed to get a hit in an inning...Eight of the nine Captains starters had at least a hit...The Captains outscored Fort Worth 12-4 in the series, outhitting the Cats 33-17...In addition to being the first sweep of the year for Shreveport-Bossier it was also the first time this year that the Captains had won the first two games of a series...Righty Matt Carter was put on the disabled list retroactive to June 13 to make room for the signing of Kelley.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their six-game homestand with a three-game showdown with the second-place Grand Prairie AirHogs, starting Friday, June 18, at 7:05 p.m. Stick around after the game for a Christian concert as part of KSLA-12 Faith and Family Night. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM as well as streaming live on supertalk1340.com. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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