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George Branch Plays Hero to Protect Batson\'s Gem

August 8, 2004 - Central Baseball League (Central League)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


If you left early, you missed one of the best plays of the year as the Pelicans beat the Dillas 5-2. Not too many people did leave early, most of the 2,129 fans watched a great game.

Pelicans starter, Byron Batson showed why he was named the Central Baseball League Rawlings Player of the Month as he pitched eight and one third innings, giving up only three hits, two runs and he struck out six. He gave up two of those hits in the first innings, then settled down and threw seven scoreless hitless innings. He was awarded the win, his eighth of the year, and Gerardo Casadiego came in to pitch the rest of the ninth to get his fifth save of the year.

Amarillo got one run in the first and their second run in the ninth. Pensacola scored their runs by Larry Bethea two run homerun in the third, his 12th of the year. After the third inning, the score was 2-1, Pensacola.

The seventh inning was an interesting one as the Pelicans scored two runs, a collision at first and Pelicans Manager Bernie Carbo got ejected from the game. Clay Cleveland reached by an error and Andy Wilson followed with a hit up the middle. That's when things got interesting. Jose Salas Jr. laid down an infield hit bunt and collided with Dillas' first baseman Dan Meier as he was reaching for the errant throw. While both players are on the ground, Bernie Carbo helps up Salas, resulting in Salas ruled out for coach's interference. While all this was happening, Cleveland and Wilson came around to score. That's when Bernie lost it and eventually got tossed from the game. The argument went on for almost 15 minutes and really got the large crowd into the game and onto the umpires.

In the ninth, Batson walked the second and third batters and then gave up his third hit of the game. He was pulled leaving three runners on base with one out and a 5-1 lead. The first batter Casadiego faced, Ayala Odannis, hit an RBI fielders choice which forced a runner out at second base. With two outs, the second batter he faced hit a long fly to left field which appeared to be a game tying homerun until George Branch, in full stride, reached up and robbed a for sure homerun from Benny Craig for the final out of the game, securing the win for Batson and the Pelicans.



Central Baseball League Stories from August 8, 2004


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