Bell, Cats thump Diablos 10-4
August 28, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
EL PASO - Michael Bell was 3-for-5 with a homer and two runs batted in as the Cats defeated El Paso 10-4 on Friday night at Cohen Stadium.
The Cats took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as the first four batters reached in the frame. Bell started the inning with a double to right-center. The next batter Ryan Patterson collected his 64th run batted in of the season as he drove home Bell for a 1-0 Cats lead. Fort Worth made it 2-0 on an RBI single by Isa Garcia.
Cats' starting pitcher Lee Gwaltney worked two innings in an abbreviated start, allowing no runs on one hit. Gwaltney will start one of the first two playoff games next Tuesday or Wednesday at LaGrave Field.
After El Paso narrowed the lead to 2-1 in the third on a Jonathan Reynoso sacrifice fly, the Cats scored three times in the fourth to open up a 5-1 lead.
In the fourth, Garcia singled with one out, followed by an infield single by Spenser Dennis. After Brian Fryer reached on a fielder's choice, Cameron Blair, Pat O'Sullivan and John Allen each came through with RBI hits for a 5-1 Fort Worth lead.
The Cats posted another three-run inning in the seventh on an RBI single by Patterson, a sacrifice fly by Garcia and a run-scoring single by Dennis to take an 8-2 lead.
Bell slammed his 14th home run of the season in the eighth inning, a two-run shot down the left-field line for a 10-2 Cats advantage.
El Paso scored twice in the bottom of the eighth off Cats' reliever Matt Gibbs. But Gibbs would strike out two of the final three hitters he faced in the eighth, completing five solid innings of work to get the win as the most effective reliever in the game. He went five innings, allowed three runs, two earned on seven hits with five strike outs.
Diablos' starter Bryan Villalona (1-6) took the loss as he gave up eight runs on 14 hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Pensacola defeated Shreveport 8-3 on Friday night as the Pelicans clinched the second-half South Division title. They will be the Cats' first-round opponent beginning next Tuesday at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth.
The final regular-season series continues on Saturday night at 8:05 p.m. with Ryan Riddle on the mound for the Cats.
American Association Stories from August 28, 2009
- The Butler's Did it as Saints Win 6-5 in 14 - St. Paul Saints
- Cats Overwhelm Diablos - El Paso Diablos
- Believe It! Pelicans Clinch Playoff Spot With 8-3 Win Over the Captains - Pensacola Pelicans
- Bell, Cats thump Diablos 10-4 - Fort Worth Cats
- Canaries outslug Lincoln - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saltdogs rally from down 3 twice, but cannot do so a third time - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Pelicans end Captains' playoff hopes - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Red hot 'Nuts shutout Hogs - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saltdogs' Thompson Named to Postseason All-Star Team - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Krause Voted to American Association Post Season All-Star Team - St. Paul Saints
- Burch and Gray Named Postseason All-Stars - Pensacola Pelicans
- Five Wingnuts Named Postseason All-Stars - Wichita Wingnuts
- Postseason All-Star Stars Announced - AA
- Pelicans Home Game Tonight: Fan Appreciation Weekend Begins - Pensacola Pelicans
- Explorers Beaten by Saints - Sioux City Explorers
- Reynoso Sends El Paso Home Happy - El Paso Diablos
- Cats rally late but fall 8-7 - Fort Worth Cats
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