Cats Once Again Outlasted by Thunder
June 28, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
Despite solid pitching from starter Tim Haines, The Fort Worth Cats could not muster up their infamous late-inning heroics in a 2-1 loss to the McAllen Thunder on Thursday night at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, TX.
Left fielder RJ Harris was 3-for-3 in the game with three singles but the top of the Cats' lineup could not help Harris out. In both the third and sixth innings, center fielder Randall Thorpe hit into a double play to end the inning. It wasn't until the eighth inning that Thorpe would keep the inning going with a single, followed by an RBI single from designated hitter Jon Dziomba to cut McAllen's lead in half. However, shortstop Shelby Ford could not keep the inning going, grounding out to second base.
The only other Fort Worth hitter to get a hit in the ballgame was first baseman Jose Ruiz who attempted to start some magic in the seventh with a two-out double. The inning would end two batters later with a CJ Beatty strikeout.
The game might have had a different outcome in extra innings if it were not for many baserunning mistakes from the Cats. It started with a leadoff double from Thorpe, who was thrown out trying to stretch his two-bagger into a triple. Jon Dziomba would have knocked Thorpe in on a single on the next at bat. Fort Worth faltered on the bags in the next two innings on two failed hit and runs from Chuck Caufield and RJ Harris.
McAllen's dominance in the series can once again be accredited to their pitching. Starter Brian Murphy (3-3) pitched 7 2/3 innings and was pulled after allowing the only Cat run. Murphy allowed eight hits and struck out three batters.
Chad Robinson picked up his second consecutive save to raise his season total to four.
Fort Worth starter Tim Haines (2-3) got the loss in Thursday's game despite a solid six inning outing. Haines only allowed two runs on nine hits and also struck out three batters.
Haines had a scary moment in the second inning when he took a single from McAllen shortstop Roberto Rodriguez off his ankle but remained in the game. Rodriguez drove in left fielder Miguel Alfonzo on the hit to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead. Alfonzo drove in the first run on a fielder's choice two batters earlier.
McAllen's record improves to 12-22, they still sit at the bottom of the United League. Fort Worth dropped their third game in a row and fall to 17-16. Fort Worth is now 0-13 when they score three runs or less and are 3-11 since their 14-5 start.
The Cats and Thunder will face off for the third game of the four game set Friday night at 7:05 at LaGrave Field. It is Pink in the Park, as the Cats players will be wearing pink to join in the fight for breast cancer. Tickets can be purchased online at FWCats.com or by phone at (817) 332-CATS.
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North American League Stories from June 28, 2012
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- Cats Once Again Outlasted by Thunder - Fort Worth Cats
- Thunder Use Strong Pitching Performance - McAllen Thunder
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- San Rafael Pacifics and Sonoma County Grapes Celebrate Sonoma with Weekend Series - San Rafael Pacifics
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