Bounces Go Captains' Way In Comeback Win

Published on August 11, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - In the first 14 innings of a brief two-game series, the Sioux Falls Pheasants showed why they were the first-half North Division winners in the American Association. In the last three, the Shreveport-Bossier Captains showed that the first-half South champs are no pushover, scoring five times to erase an early 3-0 deficit and a late 4-3 hole to beat the Pheasants 5-4 and earn a split of the two-game set, in front of 1,576 fans at Fair Grounds Field on Wednesday.

After a two-run second-inning home run by Eddy Rodriguez and a solo shot on the first pitch of the top of the sixth by Beau Torbert, the Pheasants (54-26, 22-10 2nd half) held a 3-0 lead, and had outscored the Captains (47-33, 18-15) 10-0 in the series to that point. In fact, in 14 innings dating back to Tuesday, Shreveport-Bossier had hit into three double plays and only had three men reach as far as second base, with none ever setting foot on third.

In this game, starter Chris Salberg had not even allowed a runner into scoring position, until Bryan Sabatella stole second after a leadoff single in the sixth. Brian Peterson then pushed a bunt past Salberg for a hit to finally get a runner to third, and Christopher Garcia smashed a three-run homer to right to suddenly tie the score.

After Shreveport-Bossier starter Richard Salazar worked a perfect seventh inning, and Sioux Falls reliever Andrew Pluta worked around a two-out walk in the bottom half, the Pheasants got two two-strike hits off Jameson Maj (4-0), including an RBI double to right-center by Torbert for his third hit of the game.

Undeterred, the Captains answered right back. Garcia hit a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth off Brandon Rapoza (2-1), and then went to second on a wild pitch. Jorge Alvarez came through with an RBI single to tie the game, and then he too got into scoring position on a Rapoza wild pitch. Andres Rodriguez then hit a grounder wide of third, and the ball deflected off the glove of third baseman Trevor Lawhorn, lunging to his left, and got past shortstop Tim Hutting for the eventual game-winning RBI.

Closer Hector Carrasco worked a quick 1-2-3 ninth, striking out the final two hitters for his 17th save of the year.

Notes: Salazar pitched around a second and third, no-out jam in the first inning by getting the dangerous heart of the Pheasants order on a weak liner, a foul out and a flyout.Peterson made a great catch over the railing of the first-base dugout to end the eighth inning on a Lawhorn popup.Eight Captains had at least one hit, but none had more than two.Shreveport-Bossier finished its season-long, nine-game, 10-day homestand with a 6-3 record.

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American Association Stories from August 11, 2010


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