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Captains hold on 4-3 to ensure meaningful weekend

August 26, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - All that a baseball team can ask for in a season is a chance to control its own destiny heading into the last series of the season. The Shreveport-Bossier Captains made sure they will have that opportunity this weekend in Pensacola, by hanging on for a 4-3 victory over the El Paso Diablos in front of 1,545 fans at Fair Grounds Field on Tuesday night.

Andres Rodriguez, who was awarded the Shreveport Times Captains MVP award as voted on by the fans in the third inning, showed why he won the award with an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the seventh off lefty Chris Luera to bring home Bryan Sabatella with the eventual winning run. Rookie Jakob Cunningham then survived three walks in the final two innings to pick up his third save of the season, striking out Arnoldo Ponce looking on a 3-2 pitch with runners at the corners to end it.

The pitchers' duel between Captains rookie Derrick Miramontes and Diablos veteran Josh Neitz stayed scoreless into the fourth inning, when El Paso (38-53, 17-26 2nd half), got a run on a one-out single by Juan Camacho and an RBI triple down the rightfield line by Jeff Vincent.

But the Captains (46-45, 24-19) answered back right away against Neitz. Christopher Garcia singled to start the bottom of the fourth, and Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch and a groundout, Jose Torres smacked a single through the drawn-in infield to give the Captains the lead at 2-1. Centerfielder Kennard Bibbs's throw to the plate then got by catcher Jerry Verastegui, allowing Torres to go to third. Torres then scored on a wild pitch, giving the Captains a 3-1 lead.

Miramontes pitched around a one-out double in the fifth, and then gave up a two-out run in the sixth to cut the Captains' lead to 3-2. But after Mike Provencher's RBI single, Robert Romero came on to get Verastegui swinging to keep the Captains in front. Miramontes ended up being charged with two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, with no walks and two strikeouts.

The Captains knocked out Neitz with two outs in the sixth as well, but new pitcher Johnny Dillard (0-2) got Jorge Alvarez to fly out to right to end a first-and-second situation. Matt Petty (5-1) came on to start the seventh, and retired the first two hitters quickly. But Bibbs walked and stole second, Jonathan Reynoso walked and Ponce lined a pitch to right to tie the game at 3-3.

Dillard began the bottom of the seventh by walking number nine hitter Joe Urtuzuastegui, but he got an out when he threw Urtuzuastegui out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Sabatella. El Paso manager Butch Henry then went to lefty Chris Luera with Dwayne White and Garcia, two lefties coming up. White struck out swinging against Luera, but Sabatella then stole second, and Luera walked Garcia, setting up Rodriguez's heroics.

Cunningham walked the leadoff man, Vincent, in the eighth, but picked him of before a flyout and a groundout ended that inning. He then got the first two outs in the ninth inning, but walked Bibbs, who stole second before Reynoso walked on a 3-2 pitch. Bibbs then stole third, but Cunningham got Ponce to end the inning.

The other results around the league Tuesday night assured the Captains and Pensacola will decide the final South Division playoff spot in this weekend's series at Pelican Park. The Captains will enter the series either two, three or four games back, with a one-game playoff to be held if necessary on Monday.

Notes: Alvarez went 0-for-4, the first time in eight games with the Captains that he did not get a hit...Jimmy Heard was awarded the Captains' Most Valuable Pitcher award...Shreveport-Bossier ensured their third straight winning series... Urtuzuastegui started at DH, Alvarez started at second and Guance started at short for the Captains to make up for the injury Tuesday to Angelo Fermin.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains conclude their final regular-season home series on Wednesday, August 26, against the El Paso Diablos with Innovative Office Systems Super Souvenir Giveaway and Fan Appreciation Night. It is also Willis-Knighton Wednesday, with a free kid's meal with every paid children's ticket. Game time is 7:05 p.m. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.



American Association Stories from August 26, 2009


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