Cats Pull Away Late

Published on August 9, 2012 under North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


ABILENE, Texas - The Prairie Dogs have played some of their best baseball against the Fort Worth Cats, but not at home. Behind a monster evening from the middle of the Fort Worth lineup, the Cats remained unbeaten at Walt Driggers Field with an 8-4 victory on Thursday night. Woods Fines, making consecutive starts against the Cats, ran into early trouble. Jon Dziomba led off the game with a single to right field before Antoin Grey punched another single to put the first two aboard. Chad Gabriel then connected with his first of four hits when he tagged a rope to left field. Joe Weik charged the low line drive but the ball ricocheted off his glove, and the game's first run scored.

With runners on second and third, Jose Ruiz drove in a run with a groundout to second before Brandon Jones smacked a sacrifice fly to left field. Before Abilene came to the plate they trailed 3-0.

But the Prairie Dogs had a response. Logan Lotti walked to start the first and Jason Martin grounded an infield single. After Joe Weik cracked a knock through the middle, the bases were loaded for Kyle Nichols. The power-hitting righty jumped on the first pitch he saw, roping a double into the right-center field gap, clearing the bases and tying the game at three.

After surrendering the early advantage, Cats' starter Blake Nation - who retired the first 14 Prairie Dogs in the first half of a double header on Saturday - held the Dogs off the board in the second, but Abilene swung hot bats again in the third. Martin tapped his second straight infield hit and scored when Weik clocked the first pitch over R.J. Harris' head in center, giving the Dogs their first lead of the game, 4-3.

After yielding a three-run first, Fines found what he was searching for when he took the hill in the second, using a double play to get through a scoreless frame. The righty held the Cats off the board in the third in fourth innings before Dziomba doubled with one out in the fifth. Antoin Grey - newly acquired from the McAllen Thunder - hit a ground ball to third; Wilson Batista scooped it but threw over the first baseman's head, allowing the run to score from first and Grey to advance all the way to third. Gabriel punished the Dogs further when he picked up an R.B.I. single to score Grey and give the Cats the 5-4 lead. The third, fourth, and fifth hitters in the Fort Worth lineup went a combined 8-for-14 with 6 R.B.I.

Nation did his part to hold the lead. The tall righty from Georgia pieced together a stretch during which he retired 17 of 20 batters to preserve the one-run advantage into the ninth.

Fines began the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to Derek Marshall before he was yanked in favor of newcomer Steve Merslich. The southpaw from Flushing, New York retired both batters he faced before giving way to Scott Vander Weg. Working for the third straight night, Vander Weg allowed hits to the first four batters he faced, giving up two more runs and allowing the Cats to enter the bottom of the ninth with a comfortable 8-4 lead.

Jeff Jamnik allowed a pair of base runners in the ninth but quickly worked through trouble to preserve the victory.

The Prairie Dogs and Cats meet in the second of an eight-game series on Friday night at Walt Driggers Field. Friday is Thunder Stix giveaway night at the ballpark presented by Taylor Electric. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a pair of free Thunder Stix. After the game, kids run the bases. If you cannot make it to the park, hear the game on 106.9 KLGD or on the internet at abileneprairiedogs.com beginning with the First Financial Pregame Show at 6:55.

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North American League Stories from August 9, 2012


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