Garcia Hogs Spotlight

Published on July 7, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Amarillo ThunderHeads News Release


AMARILLO, TX - Amarillo Sox starter Justin Garcia had to be at his best of Thursday night and he was just that as he helped the Amarillo Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Grand Prairie Airhogs in front of 3,042 fans at the Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium.

Garcia (6-1) never allowed more than two hits in an inning and has not lost in his last nine starts. Airhogs reliever Jon Fulton (2-1) got the loss, allowing the two eighth inning runs that gave the Sox the lead. Sox closer Pat Overholt earned his second save, allowing no hits and retiring two of the three batters he faced in the ninth. Amarillo designated hitter Fehlandt Lentini went 3-3 with two RBI in the effort.

The Sox scored the first runs of the game in the second inning. With a runner on first, Tim Alberts grounded a ball over to the shortstop. Despite the force out at second, Alberts hustled down the line and was safe at first in front of the throw. Following an Adam De La Garza walk, Kevin Butler singled to score Alberts from second to take the lead. Grand Prairie's David Thomas hit a solo homerun in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1.

The Airhogs took the lead in the fifth inning as Danny Figueroa hit an infield single and scored from first on a David Espinosa RBI triple for a 2-1 advantage.

Grand Prairie added another run in the seventh as Chris McMurray led off with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on an infield single from Figueroa for a two-run lead.

The Sox were able to come back and tie the game as Butler hit a two-out single and went to second on a Jason White single. Lentini followed and powered a double to left field to score both runners to tie the game 3-3.

Amarillo took the lead in the eighth. With Fulton in the game, Cyle Hankerd led off with a bloop single, while Lee Cruz walked to put runners on first and second. Van Pope grounded out to advance the runners, while Alberts delivered a single down the first base line to score both runners for a two-run advantage.

In the ninth, the Sox allowed a run, but Overholt came in, coaxed a Guillermo Martinez line out, allowed a Cesar Nicolas walk, but got a fielder's choice from Greg Porter to end the game with Amarillo victorious 5-4.

With the win, the Sox improve to 27-24 while the Airhogs fall to 34-17. Friday, Amarillo will take on Grand Prairie for the second game of a four-game set at 7:05pm with the Aqua One Pre-Game Show set to begin at 6:50pm. The game can be heard by visiting www.amarillosox.com via Ustream. Game time is tentative and is subject to blackout.

Season tickets are available for purchase in-person by visiting the Sox Front Offices at 801 S. Polk or over the phone by calling (806) 242-4653. For more information on tickets, game times and schedules, promotions, marketing opportunities, and everything else Sox, visit the "Official Website of the Amarillo Sox" at www.amarillosox.com.

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American Association Stories from July 7, 2011


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