Dogs Lose after Late Comeback
July 20, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
McAllen Thunder News Release
ABILENE, TX - It looked like it would turn out to be another magical evening for the Dogs on their home field, but the Thunder withstood Wilson Batista's game tying, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning and rebounded with a three-run 10th to win for the second straight night at Walt Driggers' Field, 6-3.
Protected by a 3-1 lead, McAllen closer Chad Robinson found himself hunting for his ninth save of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning. After striking out Chris Caves to start the frame, Davis Page, playing in his first game with the Dogs, began the comeback with a high pop on the left side of the infield. After third baseman Nathan Tomaszewski chased it into foul ground, he staggered back into fair play and dropped the ball, allowing Page to reach at first.
The next batter, Danny Gonzalez, bounced into a fielder's choice, and the Dogs were down to their final out. But then Jason Martin chopped an infield single and Adam De La Garza worked a four pitch walk to set a heroic scene for Wilson Batista. The second baseman quickly laced the first pitch from Robinson into right field, scoring two and tying the game at three.
Scott Vander Weg, who struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning, returned for the top of the tenth. However, he was not as sharp in his second inning of work. Yasser Gomez walked to start and moved to third when Nelson Teilon singled to right and advanced to second on the throw.
Bobby Brown elected to intentionally walk Thursday night's hero Miguel Alfonzo to load the bases before calling for Kevin Gelinas. The big California-born lefty struck out the Giansion Rossa, but Nick Mahin drove in the go-ahead run with an R.B.I. fielder's choice.
Two more runs crossed home on a pair of wild pitches, and McAllen snatched a 6-3 advantage.
Billy Petrick started the game for Abilene and allowed three runs over the first four innings. Miguel Alfonzo singled in a run in the third inning, and Craig Hertler batted in a pair of tallies on an infield single in the fourth.
Petrick lasted eight innings in a no decision and did not allow a base hit after the fourth, he gave up five hits and three runs while striking out six.
Batista drove in all three runs for Abilene. His first R.B.I. came on a two-out single to center in the fifth.
Martin collected three hits to go with a run scored and a stolen base, he is batting .381 over Dogs' last 14 games.
Abilene will host McAllen in the fifth of a six game series on Saturday night. The game starts at 7:05 and you can hear every pitch beginning with the First Financial Pregame Show at 6:55 on both 106.9 KLGD and abileneprairiedogs.com.
On Saturday night, the first 1,000 Prairie Dogs fans through the gates will receive a glow-in-the-dark baseball as part of AEP Texas/KTXS Glow in the Dark Logo Ball Giveaway Night. In addition, kids can run the bases after the ballgame.
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North American League Stories from July 20, 2012
- Colts Cruise Past Cats - Fort Worth Cats
- Dogs Lose after Late Comeback - McAllen Thunder
- Colts Coast Past Fort Worth, 11-1 - San Angelo Colts
- Dogs Lose after Late Comeback - Abilene Prairie Dogs
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- Rodriguez Dominated WhiteWings - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Page Replaces Welch - Abilene Prairie Dogs
- Colts Trade Page to Abilene - San Angelo Colts
- Fiddlestrings Donating Colts Tickets - San Angelo Colts
- WhiteWings Announce Successful Promotion - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Maikel Jova Extends Hit Streak to 32 Games as Pacifics Beat Hawaii Stars - San Rafael Pacifics
- Colts' Comeback Falls Short against Cats - Fort Worth Cats
- Thunder Win Going Away Wire-to-Wire Victory for McAllen - Abilene Prairie Dogs
- Wire-To-Wire Victory For Mcallen - McAllen Thunder
- Colts' Comeback Falls Short - San Angelo Colts
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