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Captains nip Pels to ensure .500 season

August 29, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - Despite the letdown from the previous evening when the Pensacola Pelicans eliminated the Shreveport-Bossier Captains from playoff contention, the Captains still have plenty to play for in the final two games of 2009. They showed it Saturday night, edging the Pelicans 2-1 in a tight game at Pelican Park. With the win, Shreveport-Bossier (48-47, 26-21 2nd half) guaranteed at least a .500 regular season, the organization's first since 2006, and fourth in franchise history.

Drew Coffey (2-1) went the first five innings for the win, allowing six hits and the lone Pelican run, with a pair of walks and one strikeout. The lefty was the beneficiary of three inning-ending double plays, including one to escape a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the third.

For the third day in a row, Shreveport-Bossier got a run in the first inning off Pelican pitching. Aaron Jackson (3-4), who only went two innings to tune up for a playoff start, walked Bryan Sabatella on four pitches to start the game, before Sabatella stole second and went to third on Luis Guance's single. Jose Torres then bounced one to second, but Antoin Gray bobbled the ball and only got one out at second, with Sabatella coming home for the first run of the game.

The Captains extended their led in the fourth when Torres walked to start the inning against Joey Wedner, and then stole second and third. After Andres Rodriguez struck out, Jorge Alvarez singled to bring home Torres and make it 2-0. Pensacola (52-43, 28-19) got its run in the fifth inning, when Jason Diaz blooped a ball over the head of Rodriguez at first to bring Adam Darby in from second.

Robert Romero pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but allowed a leadoff walk to Dallas Christison in the seventh. The Pelicans' shortstop then stole second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Deleo. But Romero struck out Adam Darby and got Francisco Leandro on a comebacker off his leg to end the inning.

Tony Pierce began the eighth inning with two outs, but then gave up a singe to Antoin Gray and walked Chase Burch. In came closer Jakob Cunningham, and Marcos Rodriguez lined an 0-1 pitch to left-center, but Dwayne White raced into the gap and made a full-extension catch to keep the Captains in the lead.

In the ninth, Cunningham allowed only a one-out single to Deleo, getting Leandro to pop out to Rodriguez to get his fifth save of the season and guarantee the Captains sole possession of second place in the second half.

Notes: The Captains have scored a run on the first Pelicans reliever of the night in each game of the series, but not off any of the other six combined relievers...Infielder Christopher Garcia was traded before the game to New Jersey of the Can-Am League to help the Jackals in their postseason, but will be returned to the Captains for 2010. Garcia served as the first-base coach for Shreveport-Bossier Saturday night, with bench coach B.J. Litchfield acting as the third-base coach and manager...Torres' three steals gave him 17 on the year, passing Sabatella for the team lead, who is at 16 after his swipe in the game. However, Sabatella has played in 40 fewer games for the Captains this season.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains conclude the 2009 regular season against the Pensacola Pelicans on Sunday, August 30 at 6:05 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 29, 2009


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