Colts' 4-Run Sixth Sinks Dillas
July 8, 2006 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Amarillo Dillas News Release
Texas hold 'em was not in the Amarillo Dillas' cards Friday night.Amarillo pitching failed to hold leads or ties of 2-0, 4-4 and 6-5, and as a result the Dillas were swept in a three-game series by the San Angelo Colts.San Angelo's Scott Krause and Jason Crosland cracked back-to-back homers in the sixth inning, producing the four runs that provided the spark for a 9-7 United League Baseball win against the Dillas before 2,429 fans at the Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa.The loss was the fourth-place Dillas' fourth in a row at home and completed their nine-game homestand 3-6.As was a habit throughout the three losses to streaking second-place San Angelo -12-3 over its past 15 games - the Dillas gave up a lead midway through or late in each game and were hurt by big innings."It's tough to sweep another team in this league because all six have quality lineups,'' said Krause, who had a game-high four RBIs. "It's hard to win three on another team's field.'' San Angelo 9, Amar! illo 7 Records: Amarillo is 20-27. San Angelo is 29-18. Key Stat: Amarillo drops its fourth home game in a row. Tonight: Amarillo hits the road for a three-game series at Edinburg that will complete the first half of the season. San Angelo erased Amarillo's first inning 2-0 lead with a four-run second inning against Dillas starter Mike Kesten. The Colts then ended Kesten's night with the four-run sixth.Kraus gave the Colts the lead for good when he lined a three-run homer, his sixth homer of the year, over the left-field wall for an 8-6 lead in the sixth."I wasn't looking for home run, just to hit it hard,'' said Krause, who put Kester's slider on East 3rd Avenue. "When you can come back and erase leads, that shows good character.''Crosland followed Krause with his league-leading 16th homer of the year, a shot that cleared the left-field wall at the 385 mark.San Angelo's relief pitching was up to the task during the final four innings.Amarillo made it 9-7 when Danny Bravo ! opened the eighth inning with a double and scored on Bryce Morrison's groundball single through the middle.The Dillas put the tying runs on base with one out in the ninth inning on singles by Brett Donahoo and Kevin Griffin. But Colts closer John Smith survived the jam when leadoff hitter Marcus Lewis popped out and Bravo's line drive was caught by third baseman Crosland. Amarillo left 13 runners on bases.Griffin, who caught all 23 innings in the series, said losing leads will soon change for Amarillo."That team over there (San Angelo) is good,'' said Griffin, who started the year playing backup catcher with San Angelo. "It seems like every time we play them they come back late. It seems like right now they get all the breaks. You have to be good, but at the same time you need a little luck. The second home run in the sixth inning was a solo and didn't hurt. But the first one was a backbreaker. He hit a good pitch.''Amarillo scored in five innings but were unable to put up a monster inning.The Dillas were led at the plate by Donahoo's 3-for-5 ! and two-RBI effort, while Bravo had two doubles and scored two runs.San Angelo finished with 10 hits.San Angelo reliever Trey Keoppel (1-0) secured the win, allowing one run in 2.2 innings, while Kesten, an All-Star, dropped to 4-4, pitching into the sixth and allowing all nine runs."Right now we just aren't getting the breaks,'' Griffin said. "We will down the line. I have been traded twice and played on two others teams. Talent-wise we are right there and this team has the potential.''
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