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Brownell Dominates Explorers to End AirHogs' Slide

May 29, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Grand Prairie AirHogs starter Nick DeBarr was named the league's pitcher of the week last week for a four-hit shutout at home against El Paso. This week's winner could very well be cheer

ing DeBarr on from the AirHogs' dugout when he starts on Wednesday, after John Brownell one-upped DeBarr with a three-hit shutout of the Sioux City Explorers on Tuesday, ending the AirHogs' three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at Lewis and Clark Park.

Brownell (2-1) threw only 97 pitches, struck out seven and did not walk a single batter, while in turn not letting a runner get to third base, as he defended the early lead his lineup provided.

Keanon Simon was hit by a pitch to start the game, and a Bridger Hunt single and Trent Lockwood walk loaded the bases with no outs. Andres Rodriguez lined one to left off his former Shreveport-Bossier Captains teammate Richard Salazar (1-2), good for a sacrifice fly to open the scoring.

The AirHogs (6-5) got a bit fortunate to double their lead an inning later. Brian Myrow led off with a long fly to right-center that was misjudged by X's centerfielder Brandon Newton for a double. Then, with two outs, leftfielder Yusuke Inoguchi and shortstop Ryan Priddy collided trying to field Yasutsugu Nishimoto's shallow fly to left-center, and the ball dropped for an RBI double.

That was all the offense that the AirHogs got against Salazar, who went seven innings, allowing four hits, three walks and a hit batter while striking out six. Grand Prairie only had one runner reach second and never had two on after the second against the Explorers lefty.

Grand Prairie did have two men on in each of the eighth and ninth innings against Ty Marotz and Gino Glynn, respectively, but could not push across any more insurance.

But that did not matter for Brownell, who faced only two over the minimum on his way to his second career shutout. The righty had five perfect innings, erased two runners via caught stealing, and allowed only two men to second base, both on ground-ball doubles over third.

In both cases Brownell finished off the inning in style, striking out Newton to end the third after Mike Murphy's double, and getting a strikeout, groundout and popout from the Explorers' 3-4-5 hitters to end the seventh after Brian Bistagne's two-bagger.

That hit turned out to be the last baserunner for Sioux City (5-6), as Brownell quickly dispatched the X's in the eighth and struck out two more in the ninth, including Bistagne swinging to end the contest.

Notes: Brownell's previous shutout was in 2008 with Kalamazoo of the Frontier League. He had one complete game with the AirHogs in 2011...This was the AirHogs' first win in four outings against a lefty starter this year, as they scored one more run tonight (two) than in the first three combined (one)...David Thomas (2-for-4) was the only player on either side to have two hits...10 of the 15 combined strikeouts in the game happened in the sixth inning or later...The game time was only 2:09, the shortest of the year for the AirHogs.

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs continue their three-game series against the Sioux City Explorers on Wednesday, May 30, at 7:05 p.m. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Monday, June 4, at 7:05 against the Laredo Lemurs. That night is Margarita Monday, with $1 off all margaritas. All games are aired live and for free on Ustream by clicking on the link on the AirHogs' home page or visiting http://www.ustream.tv/channel/airhogs-baseball with selected contests aired on Time Warner Cable's Texas Channel. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the AirHogs, check out the Web site at www.airhogsbaseball.com, or call the QuikTrip Park office at (972) 504-9383.

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