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Batista leads Dogs to 7-3 win

August 3, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


FORT WORTH, TX - An at-bat from the right side of the plate can be challenging for a switch hitter after his first three plate appearances have come as a left-handed batter. Wilson Batista dealt with no such struggles on Friday night at LaGrave Field, cranking a towering grand slam beyond the left field fence in the seventh inning and leading Abilene to a 7-3 victory over the Fort Worth Cats.

Matt Larkins dominated the Fort Worth lineup over the first five innings. After CJ Beatty started the bottom of the first with a controversial single - it bounded beneath second baseman Geraldo Valentin's glove and was initially ruled an error - Larkins retired the next 15 batters he faced. The rookie from UC Riverside went to a two-ball count on only four Cats' hitters through the first five innings.

The Dogs supported their rookie right-hander with two runs in the top of the third. Austin Newell knocked in his first run with his first hit in a Dogs uniform, a single up the middle to score Jason Martin. Soon after, Kyle Nichols made it 2-0 when he singled to score Newell.

The fifth inning started with Jason Martin's single up to middle - Martin went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. The speedy center fielder stole second base and scored when, with two outs in the inning, Nichols reached on a throwing error by third baseman Brandon Jones, making it 3-0.

Larkins, making his first start since experiencing bone spurs in his right elbow on July 23, began the sixth by allowing consecutive doubles to Derek Marshall and RJ Harris, the hits produced the first Fort Worth run of the game. The Cats found their third straight hit of the frame when CJ Beatty singled to left, scoring Harris and brining the Cats to within one (3-2). One out later, the home team tied the game on Jose Ruiz's sacrifice fly to center field.

However, Wilson Batista put the contest out of reach in the top of the seventh. After Fort Worth starter Casey Russell allowed the first two batters to reach base, Mace Thurman entered in relief. The lefty hit Joe Weik to load the bases and struck out Nichols for the first out of the inning. But when Batista came to the plate for his first right-handed at-bat of the game, he jumped on the first pitch he saw and swatted a sky-scraping home run over the left field fence to provide the final margin, 7-3.

Derrick Dingeman notched his first save with the Dogs by pitching three scoreless innings to close the door, Dingeman allowed only one hit and a one walk while striking out a batter.

Casey Russell is charged with his first professional loss, and Matt Larkins moves to 2-0 on the season.

The Dogs will make their seventh attempt for their first three-game win streak of the season at 6:05 on Saturday night. Because of a July 15 rainout, the Prairie Dogs and Cats will play a double header tomorrow. Both games are scheduled to last seven innings. Hear all the play-by-play on 106.9 KLGD or on the internet at abileneprairiedogs.com beginning with the First Financial Pregame show at 5:55.

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