Big Hit Eludes AirHogs as Trip Concludes with Loss

Published on July 28, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. -- The short-handed Grand Prairie AirHogs took a run at playing more small ball on Thursday night, but their 11 singles and one double were not enough to get them the runs they needed to avoid a 5-4 loss to the Shreveport-Bossier Captains at Fair Grounds Field, ending their longest road trip of the year at 2-7.

The AirHogs (43-26) did not have a single 1-2-3 inning thrown against them, but they only managed to score in three frames, leaving nine men on base, hitting into three double plays, having one runner caught stealing and one more thrown out at the plate.

Shreveport-Bossier (33-37) scored all their runs in the first two innings against John Brownell (8-3), who was dominant afterwards. But the Captains' 2-3-4 hitters did the damage, with Robert Perry, Bryan Sabatella and Palmer Karr combining for four hits, four RBIs and all five runs scored.

Brownell allowed four more hits the rest of the way, including striking out nine out of 12 hitters (and six in a row at one point) from the fifth until he tired with two outs in the eighth, giving up back-to-back singles. But Bo Schultz bailed him out with a strikeout to give the AirHogs a chance in the ninth down by one.

But like the first eight innings, ultimate success was just out of the AirHogs' reach. They hit into inning-ending double plays in the second and third against Jack Strawn (1-0), and had the first three runners reach in the sixth. But after Tyler Henley's second sacrifice fly of the night made it 5-4, Jeremy Sauceda grounded one to short with the infield in, and John Johnson just got Zane Chavez at home for the third out.

The AirHogs had a one-out walk in the seventh, and two singles in the eighth, but Jameson Maj got a four-out save, getting a double play in the ninth and a lineout from Chris McMurray to end it despite giving up two hits and a hit batter to the six men he faced.

Notes: John Alonso did not play after injuring his calf crashing over the railing for a foul ball on Wednesday. He is expected to return over the weekend...The AirHogs signed Sauceda after he was released by Fort Worth earlier this month...Jake Taylor, Guillermo Martinez, Chavez and Henley, the AirHogs' 5-through-8 hitters, went 9-for-13 with all four RBIs and all four runs scored.

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The AirHogs return home to start a three-game series at QuikTrip Park on Friday, July 29, against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. for the second QuikTrip Night of the year. All fans can get a free ticket for that night at their local QuikTrip store. It is also Ed Randall's Bat For the Cure prostate cancer awareness night. Don't miss the renewed commitment to excellence and affordable family entertainment. All games are available with live, free streaming video on ustream.tv. Individual game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 972-504-9383 or by visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com.

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American Association Stories from July 28, 2011


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