Clutch Hitting Gets Captains Third Straight Win

Published on July 10, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - Back at home after a 4-2 road trip filled with late-inning rallies, the Shreveport-Bossier Captains kept the momentum going on Friday night. Both times that the Captains came up after the Wichita Wingnuts scored, the Captains answered with two runs, getting a pair of two-run singles from Jose Torres and Dan Williams to propel Shreveport-Bossier to a 5-4 win over the first-half North Division winners in front of 1,784 at Fair Grounds Field.

The Captains (25-27, 3-1 second half) have now won three straight for the second time this season, after not having their first three-game winning streak until exactly one week ago. Wichita (33-20, 1-4), meanwhile, has lost four of five to start the second half after cruising to a comfortable first-half title.

Rookie Jimmy Heard (3-0) brushed off a tough start in a no-decision at El Paso last Sunday by throwing six strong innings to remain perfect on the season. Heard did fall behind though, as a two-out solo home run in the first by Greg Porter gave Wichita a 1-0 lead. Porter's homer was the first of the season by a left-handed hitter at Fair Grounds Field, although it did go to left field.

With two outs and no one on in the bottom of the first, the Captains also mounted a rally, as Christopher Garcia singled to left and Andres Rodriguez doubled into the leftfield corner. After Selwyn Langaigne worked a walk against Derek Blacksher (5-2) to load the bases, Jose Torres smacked a 3-1 pitch to right-center to give the Captains a 2-1 lead.

Shreveport-Bossier got another run on an RBI groundout by Tommy Bryant in the fourth before the Wingnuts got a pair of unearned runs off Heard to tie the game in the sixth. After a single and a walk and the dangerous Porter at the plate, Bryant allowed a pair of passed balls to bring home Josh Horn and but Nick Blasi at third with no outs. Porter grounded to second to bring home Blasi and tie the game, before Heard finished his outing with a pair of easy outs.

The righty allowed four hits and three runs, with just one earned in his six innings of work, walking two and striking out four.

With the game tied the Captains answered once more, as Langaigne led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the leftfield line. After a single by Torres and a grounder by Richard Paz put runners at second and third with one out, rookie shortstop Dan Williams strode to the plate. Blacksher blew a pair of fastballs by him, but then missed high with one. After a couple of foul balls on fastballs, Blacksher just missed high with a breaking ball on the outside corner, before another wide one filled up the count. Finally Williams caught up to a fastball and lined it to right-center, plating both runners and restoring the Captains' lead.

Matt Petty relieved Heard in the seventh and got into trouble with a fielding error, a hit and a walk. But with the bases loaded and two outs, Petty came back from a 3-1 count with a strike on Blasi before getting him to fly out harmlessly to left-center.

After Jakob Cunningham pitched a six-pitch 1-2-3 eighth, Justin Dowdy came on in the ninth, and just as he did in his last outing on Wednesday, got the first two men out. But the third batter, Michael Thompson, launched a home run to left to bring Wichita within a run at 5-4. Dowdy regrouped though, and got Patrick Brooks on a 2-2 changeup to pick up his seventh save of the year.

Notes: The Captains have not been at two games under .500 for the year since May 30...The five runs allowed by Blacksher were the most he has given up this season...White and Torres were the only two Captains with multi-hit games...The Captains have now been out-homered this season 28-15.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their three-game series with North Division first-half champion Wichita on Saturday, July 11, at 7:05 p.m. with Faith and Family Night. After the game, there will be a concert by Dove Award-nominee Francesca Battistelli, sponsored by First Baptist Church of Shreveport, Lifeway Christian Stores, Shreveport-Bossier Christian Family Magazine and K-LOVE radio. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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American Association Stories from July 10, 2009


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