Captains Tie Ballgame Late But Grand Prairie Prevails

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


SHREVEPORT, La.---Palmer Karr Jr.'s two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at four and John Johnson's ninth-inning RBI tied it at five but Grand Prairie scored two runs in the tenth to defeat Shreveport-Bossier 7-5 Wednesday night at Fair Grounds Field.

Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, Karr's eighth home run of the year off AirHogs setup man Jon Fulton tied the game up. In the top of the ninth, with two outs, Grand Prairie second baseman David Espinosa hit Mark Haynes' 3-2 pitch over the wall in right to give the AirHogs a 5-4 lead. It was just Espinosa's third homer of the year and the first allowed by Captains closer Haynes (L, 0-2) all season long.

But Shreveport-Bossier would send the game to extras when rookie shortstop Johnson hit a fielder's choice to first that scored Joe Urtuzuastegui with the tying run. With one out and runners on the corners, AirHogs first baseman Jake Taylor fielder the ground ball and got an out at second base but Johnson beat out the return throw to first to tie it up.

In the top of the tenth, Chris McMurray came in to score when third baseman Andres Rodriguez made a throwing error on a bunt by Grand Prairie's Guillermo Martinez. A Zane Chavez sacrifice fly scored Taylor to make it 7-5. In the last of the tenth, the Captains had runners on first and second with one out, but AirHogs closer John Hunton (W, 5-1) got Urtuzuastegui to hit into a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Johnson went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. The Shreveport-Bossier rookie is now 10-for-17 in his first five games with the Captains. Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Centerfielder Robert Perry added a 2-for-4 night with a run batted in.

The AirHogs scored first on a John Alonso two-run homer in the first inning off Captains starter Ryan DiPietro. Shreveport-Bossier got one back in the bottom of the frame when a Rodriguez base hit scored Johnson to make it 2-1. With the score 3-2 in the seventh, AirHogs centerfielder David Thomas would hit his seventh home run of the year to extend the Grand Prairie lead and set the stage for Karr's eighth inning homer.

Espinosa went 3-for-5 for the Hogs with two runs scored and an RBI. Catcher/leftfielder Chris McMurrary went 3-for-5 with a run scored. Taylor added three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run scored.

DiPietro lasted 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs (three earned) with two walks and six strikeouts. AirHogs starter Jason Jennings went seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out eight.

Two Captains players, along with manager Vince Moore, were ejected during the course of the game. First baseman Uriak Marquez was ejected in seventh for arguing balls and strikes. In the eighth, Moore was thrown out along with catcher Brian Peterson for arguing about a close play at second base. With no outs in the inning and a runner on first, Jake Taylor put down a sacrifice bunt and Peterson threw down to second base with Johnson covering. Johnson had to leap in the air to catch the ball but then landed back on the bag. Third base umpire Danny Hymel ruled that the runner at second, McMurray was safe.

The Captains fall to 32-37 on the season and 11.5 behind Grand Prairie in the American Association South Division. The two teams play the rubber game Thursday night at Fair Grounds Field as Josh Strawn (0-0, 3.18) takes on the AirHogs John Brownell (8-2, 3.84) on Bud Light Shirt Off Our Back Night/99X Thirsty Thursday where fans can win game-worn jerseys right off the backs of their favorite Captains players. And Thirsty Thursday means $2.00 beers. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:05.

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 27, 2011


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