Birthday Boy Jennings Gives AirHogs Series Win

Published on July 17, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- Jason Jennings celebrated his 33rd birthday in style, pitching seven shutout innings to help the Grand Prairie AirHogs defeat the Wichita Wingnuts 4-0 in front of 2,508 fans at QuikTrip Park, avenging an earlier loss to Wichita starter Derek Blacksher.

Blacksher (4-7), who defeated the AirHogs (41-19) with a one-run, eight-inning, 10-strikeout performance in June as a member of the Fort Worth Cats, ran into trouble immediately in the first. He threw seven straight balls to start his night and walked two of the first three hitters. Cesar Nicolas made Blacksher pay with a long two-run double to right-center to give Grand Prairie the lead, and Chris McMurray's two-out RBI single made it 3-0.

In the third, Nicolas struck with another RBI double to give the AirHogs a 4-0 lead, but Blacksher got through the next three innings unscathed to keep the Wingnuts (32-29) within striking distance.

But Jennings (7-1) did not let them get anything on the board in his seven frames, stranding all eight baserunners he let aboard (six hits and two walks). The righty allowed only one extra-base hit and struck out seven, allowing the Wingnuts two hits in 17 at-bats with runners on base.

Righty reliever Kyle Gunderson struggled with his command in his AirHogs debut, walking two of the three hitters he faced around a pop-up. Jon Fulton then came in and got a flyout from Peter Barrows and a strikeout of Josh Horn to end the inning, before Jon Hunton finished things off with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Notes: The Wingnuts were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position...Hunton threw four pitches for his three outs...Neither team made an error in the series...The two teams combined for 15 runs in the first four innings of the three games, and only three in the final five...Jennings won for just the second time in five home starts...The AirHogs have won three straight series after losing the first game.

The AirHogs have Monday off before embarking on a nine-game, 10-day, three-city road trip, beginning at Cohen Stadium against the El Paso Diablos on Tuesday, July 19. First pitch is at 8:05 p.m. Central Time. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Friday, August 29, against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. for Teacher Appreciation Night, where all high school teachers get in for just $5. 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 17, 2011


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