Cats rally in ninth for second straight win
Published on July 11, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
Ryan Patterson and Kelley Gulledge hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the ninth inning to propel the Cats to a 12-11 win on Saturday night in Grand Prairie.
It was the second straight game in which the Cats had trailed by a run going to the ninth, only to come back and win. Saturday, they twice rallied in the game from down four runs. Grand Prairie took advantage of eight walks allowed by Cats' starter Ryan Trytten, who left after three innings trailing 4-0.
Fort Worth tied the game in the fifth as Cameron Blair drove home a run with an RBI single, followed by a three-run homer by Michael Bell, his eighth of the year.
But the AirHogs answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Aaron Garza's RBI single gave Grand Prairie a 5-4 lead. They also scored in the fifth on two Cats' errors and a Michael Conroy sacrifice fly to make it 8-4.
The Cats narrowed the lead to 8-6 with two runs in the sixth, including a solo home run by Patterson, his first of the game. Fort Worth made it a one-run game with a run in the seventh, but then allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh to fall behind 11-7.
Fort Worth rallied with three runs in the eighth inning to pull to within a run again at 11-10.
In the ninth with one out, Patterson belted his second home run of the game and ninth of the season, followed by a solo homer by Kelley Gulledge, his seventh to give Fort Worth it's first lead of the game at 12-11.
The Cats, who came into the game with the second fewest errors in the league, committed a season-high six in the contest. Their pitching staff walked ten, also a season high.
Tyler Pearson (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning in relief. Gary Lee notched his second save in as many games as he retired the side in the ninth with a 1-2-3 frame. Pat Mahomes, who permitted two runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings took the loss for Grand Prairie.
The series continues on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. in Grand Prairie as Joel Kirsten takes the mound for Fort Worth.
American Association Stories from July 11, 2009
- Canaries capitalize on error - Sioux Falls Canaries
- St. Paul defeats Explorers - Sioux City Explorers
- Back-to-Back Homers in Ninth Stun AirHogs -- Fall to Cats 12-11 - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Lowe, Cunningham spin first Captains shutout of '09 - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- American Association Recap - AA
- Two unearned runs in eighth send Saltdogs to defeat - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Bounce Back to Take Down Explorers 5-2 - St. Paul Saints
- Cats rally in ninth for second straight win - Fort Worth Cats
- Beam Pitches First Pelicans' One-Hitter - Pensacola Pelicans
- Wingnuts Shutout by Captains - Wichita Wingnuts
- Three Wingnuts hurlers added to All-Star team - Wichita Wingnuts
- McGill, Thompson added to All-Star team - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Three Captains pitchers named to All-Star squad - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Pitchers and reserves announced for Midsummer Classic - AA
- Three more Pelicans named All-Stars - Pensacola Pelicans
- Sports Illustrated names Saints one of most affordable summer sports deals - St. Paul Saints
- Saints pitcher, OF chosen for All-Star Game - St. Paul Saints
- Four Canaries make All-Star team - Sioux Falls Canaries
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