Captains Allow Seven Early, Fall to AirHogs 8-5

Published on June 27, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Tx.---Shreveport-Bossier allowed seven runs in the first two innings to the Grand Prairie AirHogs at QuikTrip Park Monday night, falling in the first game of the series 8-5 despite outscoring the Hogs 5-1 over the final five innings of the game.

AirHogs starter Josh Rainwater (7-2) became the second pitcher in the league to reach seven wins as Grand Prairie became the first team in the league to win 30 games, improving to 30-13 and opening up a 7.5 game lead over the Captains and Amarillo Sox in the American Association South.

The first six AirHogs that came to the plate reached base safely off Captains starter Aaron Cunningham (2-5) en route to a five-run first inning. David Espinosa reached base on third baseman Mike Provencher's throwing error to start the inning. Cunningham then hit David Thomas with a pitch and, following a double steal by Espinosa and Thomas, walked Cesar Nicolas to load the bases. Greg Porter would score two with a two-run double. John Alonso would knock in Nicolas with a fielder's choice groundout to make it 3-0.

Chris McMurray hit an infield single to third and with two outs Guillermo Martinez would single to load the bases again. Danny Figueroa would knock in Alonso with a base hit, making it 4-0. That brought Espinosa back to the plate. He singled to center field, scoring McMurray, but Martinez was thrown out at the plate by Captains center fielder Robert Perry.

The AirHogs would add two in the second on an RBI double by Porter and a double later in the frame off the bat of McMurray to make it 7-0. However, Cunningham would settle in, allowing just three baserunners to reach in the next four innings and just one more run, a solo home run by shortstop Jake Taylor in the fifth.

The Captains clawed their way back into the game off Rainwater with two in the fourth and sixth innings. Andres Rodriguez plated Perry with an RBI single in the fourth. Bryan Sabatella, who had singled earlier in the inning, came in on Joe Urtuzuastegui's RBI single to make it 7-2. The Captains had the bases loaded and two outs with second baseman Michael Diffie at the plate when Urtuzuastegui was picked off first to end the threat.

Shreveport-Bossier would cut the lead again in the sixth when Uriak Marquez scored Sabatella with a base hit and Brian Peterson scored Palmer Karr Jr. with a sacrifice fly. Again, the Captains would leave two on when Diffie grounded out to the pitcher with runners on first and second.

Mike Provencher led off the seventh inning with his third home run in as many nights, a line drive shot over the seats in left field. That would run Rainwater from the game but Grand Prairie relievers Justin Moody and Dustin Cameron combined to pitch two scoreless innings and Jon Hunton (Sv, 11) pitched the ninth, allowing just a walk, to pick up the save.

Provencher went 3-for-4 in the loss. The home run was his fifth of the year, trying him with Marquez for the team lead. Sabatella, who came into the game tied with Nicolas for the league lead in batting average (.414), was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Andres Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Joe Urtuzuastegui was 2-for-4 with a run batted in.

Captains reliever Lee Henry pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking two. Henry has now thrown 6.2 innings for the Captains, allowing just one earned run.

Grand Prairie's Nicolas went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. He has now reached base safely in all 36 games he has appeared in. Greg Porter went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs.

The Captains have lost three straight and are 1-3 on their current seven-game road trip. They throw lefthander Richard Salazar (3-2, 5.32) to the mound against AirHogs righty David Nathanson (0-1, 7.20) on Tuesday, June 28. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Season tickets and single-game tickets to the Captains are available for purchase in-person or over the phone by visiting the Captains Executive Offices at 2901 Pershing Boulevard at Fair Grounds Field or by calling (318) 636-5555. VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

For more information about season and individual game tickets, game times, promotions, marketing opportunities, full game schedule, and everything else Captains, visit the "Official Website of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains" by logging onto www.sbcaptains.com.

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American Association Stories from June 27, 2011


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