Five-Run First Leads Amarillo to 7-4 Win Over Captains

Published on July 29, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La.---Captains relievers held the Amarillo Sox scoreless for 6.2 innings, but a five-run first proved hard to overcome as Shreveport-Bossier fell to Amarillo 7-4 Friday night at Fair Grounds Field.

The Sox batted around and scored five times on five hits in the first off Captains starter Steve Kent (0-3). Trailing 6-0, Shreveport-Bossier scored four unanswered runs to get to within two but Amarillo fended off Captains rallies in the eighth and ninth to preserve the win.

With the score 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Sox starter Justin Garcia (7-3) gave up a one-out single to John Johnson, hit Robert Perry and then walked Bryan Sabatella to load the bases. Reliever Chad Povich came in and walked in two runs to make it 6-4. But Jacob Worthman got Uriak Marquez to line into a double play with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Amarillo added an insurance run on a Lee Cruz RBI double off Lee Henry in the top of the ninth. In the last of the ninth, Sox closer Cody Evans (Sv, 4) quickly struck out Brian Peterson and Mike Provencher. With the count 3-2, Alex Cowart kept the game alive by lining a single into center. Johnson followed suit with a base hit, but Evans got Perry to foul out to third, ending the game.

Garcia allowed four runs on six hits in 7.1 innings. He walked one and struck out six. Sox first baseman Cyle Hankerd went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, including his 10th home run of the year in the second off Jake McCarter. Catcher Kevin Butler added a 3-for-5 night with two RBIs.

Amarillo's Fehlandt Lentini started off the game by doubling to left center. He would score the game's first run on another double by Adam de la Garza. A Van Pope sac fly would score de la Garza, followed later by a two-run single by Butler. Jason White added a two-out RBI base hit to make it 5-0. Hankerd's second inning blast increased the lead to 6-0.

Shreveport-Bossier got on the board in the fourth on a Uriak Marquez RBI single, scoring Bryan Sabatella who led off the frame with a base hit and stole second. In the sixth, Perry led off with double, tagged up to third on Sabatella's deep fly out to right, and scored on Palmer Karr Jr's ground out to short.

Perry led the offense with a 2-for-4 night with two runs, a double, stolen base and hit by pitch. John Johnson, the rookie shortstop who has dazzled so far, went 2-for-5, extending his hit streak to seven games.

Kent went 0.1 innings, allowing five runs and four hits while walking two. Jose Velazquez, making his third appearance for the Captains, pitched three scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit and retired eight of the nine hitters he faced.

With the loss, Shreveport-Bossier falls to 33-38 on the year. They remain eight games out of the Wild Card picture and are currently tied with Ft. Worth for third place in the American Association South Division. Shreveport-Bossier is 2-2 on their current home stand and 19-15 at Fair Grounds Field this season.

The Captains and Sox play game two Saturday night when Joel Kirsten (3-6, 8.04) goes to the mound against Ryan Mitchell (4-4, 3.09) on Miller Lite & 98 Rocks Jersey Off Our Back Night where fans can enter a raffle to win game-worn Captains jerseys. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:05.

Season tickets and single-game tickets to the Captains are available for purchase in-person or over the phone by visiting the Captains Executive Offices at 2901 Pershing Boulevard at Fair Grounds Field or by calling (318) 636-5555. VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted.

For more information about season and individual game tickets, game times, promotions, marketing opportunities, full game schedule, and everything else Captains, visit the "Official Website of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains" by logging onto www.sbcaptains.com.

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American Association Stories from July 29, 2011


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