Captains Score Five in Ninth For 6-5 Walkoff Win Over Sox

Published on July 1, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La.---Bryan Sabatella slid headfirst into home plate on Palmer Karr Jr.'s RBI single to complete the Captains second improbable ninth-inning comeback win in three games as Shreveport-Bossier scored five times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Amarillo 6-5 at Fair Grounds Field Friday night.

Trailing 5-1 with the bases loaded and no one out, left fielder Alex Cowart hit a bases-clearing double off the wall in left to bring Shreveport-Bossier to within one run. Mike Provencher would put Cowart on third with one out on his sacrifice bunt to third. After Robert Perry struck out against Amarillo reliever Austin Chambliss (0-3) for the second out, Bryan Sabatella came to the plate. Sabatella fell behind only to even the count at 2-2 before launching a blooper into right field that bounced once before it hopped into the glove of diving Sox right fielder Cyle Hankerd, scoring Cowart to tie the game.

Andres Rodriguez came to the plate next and picked up his third hit of the game, a single to left, to put the winning run at second. Palmer Karr Jr. was next, hitting another base hit to left. Captains manager Vince Moore sent Sabatella around from second. The throw from Sox left fielder Lee Cruz was late as Sabatella slid safely into home, causing the 1,226 assembled at Fair Grounds Field to erupt into hysterics.

The win marked the second time in three games the Captains had come from behind in the ninth. They beat Grand Prairie 4-3 on Wednesday night on Brian Peterson's two-run homer in the top of the ninth.

The Captains fell behind in the fourth when Sox designated hitter Tim Alberts hit a two-run double off Ryan DiPietro, scoring Lee Cruz and Van Pope. Alberts would come in to score on Chris Nash's RBI single to make it 3-0 Amarillo. The Sox added two with two outs in the fifth on an RBI double by Pope and a base hit by Alberts.

However, the Shreveport-Bossier relief tandem of Lee Henry and Jake McCarter (3-0), would hold Amarillo scoreless over the final 2.1 innings to give the Captains the improbable ninth-inning opportunity.

DiPietro went 6.2 innings, allowing five runs on ten hits. He tied a season high with seven strike outs while walking three, all in the first inning. Sox starter Justin Garcia pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on seven hits, walking two and striking out six. Chad Povich and Pat Overholt allowed two runs each in the ninth, before Chambliss came in and gave up the winning run.

The Captains improve to 25-21 and 15-8 at home this season. With Grand Prairie's victory, Shreveport-Bossier is still 6.5 games behind the AirHogs in the American Association South. The Sox fall to 23-22 and 6-12 on the road, 8.5 behind the AirHogs.

Shreveport-Bossier and Amarillo play game two Saturday, July 2 on Military Appreciation Weekend sponsored by Landers Dodge and KTAL-6, featuring post-game fireworks.. The Captains will throw Aaron Cunningham (2-5, 5.52) to the mound against Sox starter Ryan Mitchell (3-2, 3.78). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:05.

As part of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains' continued commitment to the men and women of the United States Military, the organization will honor those who have served our country. With proper military, DOD and VA identification, active duty and U.S. military veterans (including Reserve and Guard members and DOD civilian employees) will receive four free reserved admission tickets to either of the two games on July 1 and 2.

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 July 1, 2011


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