
Captains survive to take thriller
Published on July 3, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - What is believed to be a record crowd of 5,377 for independent baseball in Shreveport came out to watch the Shreveport-Bossier Captains take on the Fort Worth Cats Thursday night at Fair Grounds Field for the Landers Dodge and KTAL Independence Day celebration. And before the postgame fireworks, the Captains and Cats gave the fans their money's worth, as Shreveport-Bossier held on for a dramatic 4-3 win. Justin Dowdy came on with two on and two out in the ninth, and struck out Michael Bell swinging on a 3-2 pitch to end it.
Matt Petty had come on to try to get the save and give Dowdy, who had pitched in three straight games, a day off. But Petty walked Cameron Blair to start the inning, and gave up a one-out single to John Allen. Up came the dangerous Patrick O'Sullivan, who lined a single up the middle. Blair tried to score from second, but centerfielder Jonathan Reynoso uncorked a perfect one-hop throw to the plate to just get Blair for the second out, before Dowdy came on for the final out.
O'Sullivan started things for the Cats (30-15) in the second inning with a solo homer to right-center off Aaron Cunningham, extending his American Association-record hitting streak to 28 games. Meanwhile, lefty Ryan Riddle held the Captains (20-25) at bay with just a hit and a walk through four. But things changed in the sixth, as Kevin Griffin led off with a hard single up the middle. Joe Urtuzuastegui followed with a hit of his own, before Tommy Bryant lined out to center. B.J. Wheeler then came up and ripped a triple to right-center to give the Captains a 2-1 lead. Jonathan Reynoso then singled to bring home Wheeler and make it 3-1.
But the Cats came back right away, as Ryan Patterson led off with a single in the top of the sixth, and with two outs, Michael Bell homered to left to tie the game. But as discouraged as Cunningham was with that homer, the next batter put that in perspective, as Kelley Gulledge lined one off of Cunningham's mouth, briefly knocking the Captains' starter out. He was able to get up and walk off under his own power, but went to the hospital for surgery. He did not break his jaw and his prognosis is good, and he is expected to return by August, although he will need some additional plastic surgery.
Shaken momentarily by their teammate's injury, the Captains were able to get the lead back. After Robert Romero got the last out of the sixth, he ran into trouble in the seventh with a hit batter and two walks to load the bases. In came Jakob Cunningham (2-0) to face O'Sullivan with the bases loaded, and the righty fanned O'Sullivan on a 2-2 slider to end the threat. Cunningham got out of a little more trouble in the eighth, and in the bottom of the frame, Alex Morales (1-2) walked Griffin to start the inning.
After Urtuzuastegui could not get a bunt down and popped up to Morales, Bryant fled out to left. Griffin then stole second easily on the first pitch to Wheeler, before the rookie second baseman lined one off Morales that caromed to second. Despite having no chance to get Wheeler, Isa Garcia threw to first, and he threw wide, allowing Griffin to score the go-ahead run.
The win broke a streak of 10 straight games alternating losses and wins for the Captains, gave Shreveport-Bossier a winning homestand at 4-3, and extended the Captains' lead in the season series over Fort Worth to 4-3.
Notes: Brian Fryer extended his hitting streak to 23 in the loss with a third-inning single...Christopher Garcia failed to reach base safely for the first time in 23 games...In the last 11 games, Romero, Jakob Cunningham, Petty and Dowdy have combined to throw 26 2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and four earned runs, with eight walks, 21 strikeouts and a 2-0 record and four saves.
The Shreveport-Bossier Captains head out for a six-game road trip to El Paso and Grand Prairie starting on Friday, July 3, at 8:05 p.m. CT against the Diablos. The Captains return home to face North Division first-half champion Wichita on Friday, July 10, at 7:05 p.m., with 1st Choice Personnel Batting Helmet Giveaway Night. 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 July 3, 2009
- American Association Recap July 3 - AA
- Pelicans Have Answers in 7-4 Win - Fort Worth Cats
- Davis Earns Tenth Save in 7-4 Win - Pensacola Pelicans
- Explorers Defeat Saints - Sioux City Explorers
- Big Innings Doom AirHogs - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Jake Butler's Grand Slam Not Enough in Saints 8-4 Loss to Explorers - St. Paul Saints
- Saltdogs Suspended by Rain - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Canaries Rally for Win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Friday's Game Suspended - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Captains survive to take thriller - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Pelicans Visit First-Half Winners - Pensacola Pelicans
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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