Cats Shut Out By Larkins
August 14, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
ABILENE, T.X. -- Matt Larkins has been an invaluable member of Abilene's pitching staff since making his first appearance with the club on Independence Day. However, the rookie righty from Carona, C.A. was never better than on Tuesday night, firing an eight-hit shutout and leading the Dogs to a 5-0 win over Fort Worth at Walt Driggers Field.
Larkins surrendered his fifth walk of the season when he allowed ball four to the game's first batter. But after quickly getting Antoin Gray to ground into a double play, Larkins began turning away Fort Worth batters with regularity.
Larkins retired the side in order in the second, fifth, and ninth innings on the way to his first professional complete game. All of the hits allowed by the rookie were singles, and three of the knocks did not leave the infield.
The only inning in which the Cats registered more than one base runner at a time was in the seventh. Jose Ruiz reached on an error before C.J. Beatty and Chuck Caufield linked consecutive singles to load the bases with one out.
With the bullpen loosening for the first time in the game, Larkins threw just one pitch to catcher Scott Dalrymple to get the eighth place hitter to chop into an inning-ending double play and keep the Cats off the board.
Zach Crosswhite was Abilene's offensive hero as the rookie went 2-for-4 including his first professional home run, a solo shot to left in the fourth. Crosswhite's homer marked the first of three fourth inning runs that pushed the Dogs toward a 4-0 advantage. Zach Welch accounted for the final two tallies when he knocked in Eddie Browne and Jason Martin with a two-run single to center.
James Giulietti started for the Cats and was tagged with his sixth loss. The lefty tossed six innings and gave up 11 hits and four runs while striking out a season-best eight batters.
The eight-game series continues on Wednesday night when the teams collide at Walt Driggers Field at 7:05.
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