Bautista's blast brings Pelicans series win

Published on June 28, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - The Shreveport-Bossier Captains had been bedeviled by Dane DeValk this season, who had allowed just one run in three prior appearances against them. But Sunday night, the Captains had a 3-2 lead against DeValk in the fifth, with Aaron Cunningham evading major damage to that point. But all that changed in a heartbeat, as Marcos Rodriguez singled with two outs to tie the game. Then Luis Bautista hit a three-run homer down the rightfield line and Pensacola stifled the Captains bats the rest of the way to pick up a 7-4 win in front of 978 fans.

The Pelicans (20-22) took the series two of three, coming back from three one-run deficits. The Captains (17-24) took the lead in the first on a walk to Jonathan Reynoso against DeValk (3-1), followed by a sacrifice bunt by Dwayne White that the pitcher bobbled, a single by Christopher Garcia to load the bases and an RBI grounder by Andres Rodriguez.

Pensacola tied it immediately in the top of the second against lefty Aaron Cunningham (1-4), when Bautista reached on a two-base error by rightfielder Selwyn Langaigne, who appeared to lose the ball in the early evening sun. After a flyout moved him to third, Bautista scored on a grounder by Adam Deleo to make it 1-1.

DeValk immediately allowed the Captains to take the lead again, as B.J. Wheeler, Jose Salazar and Jonathan Reynoso all hit two-out singles to make it 2-1. Pensacola came right back to tie, with a single by Rodriguez, a balk by Cunningham, a single by Bautista and a sacrifice fly by Dallas Christison.

Back came the Captains once more with an answer, as Kevin Griffin led off the fourth with a single, and scored on two-out singles by Reynoso and White. Cunningham started the fifth by striking out Luis Guance, but then allowed singles to Antoin Gray and Chase Burch before striking out Justin Humphries for the second out. But Rodriguez came up with his clutch two-out hit to tie the game, and Bautista followed with the first home run of the year to right at Fair Grounds Field.

After a single by Christison, Cunningham departed for B.J. Litchfield, who allowed a stolen base and an RBI single by Deleo to make it 7-3. In total, Cunningham was charged with seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Litchfield ended up going 3 1/3 innings without allowing any more runs, despite giving up five singles, and Jakob Cunningham got three groundballs in the ninth. But Shreveport-Bossier's offense stalled after the fourth, getting just three baserunners on walks until the eighth. The Captains' best chance against DeValk came in the sixth, with a pair of two-out walks, but Garcia struck out against lefty reliever Tyler Wilson to end the inning. DeValk went 5 2/3 innings, allowed nine hits and three runs, with four walks and four strikeouts, improving to a perfect 3-0 against Shreveport-Bossier this season.

After Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Griffin led off the eighth with a walk against righty Ron Hill. Wheeler then doubled down the rightfield line to make it 7-4, but pinch-hitter Josh Collazo struck out in his professional debut, and Reynoso then hit a line drive to short, and Wheeler was doubled off to end the inning. Closer Hunter Davis gave up a two-out single in the ninth but got Langaigne to pop out to get his ninth save of the year.

Notes: There still have not been any homers by lefties at Fair Grounds Field this season...Bautista's brother Jose hit a home run today for the Toronto Blue Jays...Bautista's homer and Wheeler's double were the only two of the 26 combined hits today that went for extra bases...Langaigne was the only Captains player without a hit, and Humphries and Francisco Leandro were the only to Pelicans to not get hits.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their seven-game homestand with a four-game series with first-half champion Fort Worth starting on Monday, June 29 at 7:05 p.m. It is Jose Cuervo presents Margarita Monday, with half-priced margaritas throughout the game, and it is also Ladies' Night, with women over 21 getting in for free. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. 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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