Grand Prairie's Nine-Run Ninth Puts Captains Away 15-2

Published on June 20, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La.---The Grand Prairie AirHogs scored nine runs in the top of the ninth to put a close to an otherwise close ballgame, defeating the Captains 15-2 in the first of a three-game series between the two teams at Fair Grounds Field Monday night.

The AirHogs sent 15 men to the plate in the inning, scoring nine times on eight hits and leaving two men on when center fielder Danny Figueroa flew out against Captains reliver Jake McCarter.

The AirHogs scored five times off Captains starter Ryan DiPietro (6-2), to give him just his second loss on the year. Former Major Leaguer Jason Jennings (5-1) threw six innings for Grand Prairie, allowing two runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out five.

Grand Prairie scored in the top of the first on a solo home run by left fielder David Thomas, his third of the year and the third of the year allowed by DiPietro. The Captains would tie it up in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Uriak Marquez, scoring Bryan Sabatella who had singled earlier in the frame.

The AirHogs got that run back in the second when Figueroa reached on a fielder's choice ground ball to short, scoring designated hitter John Alonso. Shreveport-Bossier went quietly for the next three innings but would tie the game in the fifth on a RBI groundout off the bat of Sabatella.

In the sixth, Grand Prairie started off the inning with two walks and an RBI double by shortstop Guillermo Martinez off DiPietro, who exited with men on first and second and one out. Reliever Lee Henry, who picked up the win in his first appearance with the Captains last night, struggled in his second outing with the club. Henry gave up RBI singles to David Espinosa and Cesar Nicolas to give the AirHogs the 5-2 lead after five and a half.

The Captains had a chance to get back in the game, loading the bases with one out. But Jennings struck out Mike Provencher and got Robert Perry to hit a hard line drive to first right at Greg Porter to end the inning.

The AirHogs added a run in the seventh on a Chris McMurray RBI double and then the floodgates opened on Captains reliever Cody Railsback in the ninth. Every AirHog except for McMurray scored in the frame, with Porter coming in twice and knocking a single and a double in the inning. Third baseman Cesar Nicolas, who went 3-for-6 with a three RBIs had a two-run double in the ninth and Jake Taylor added two hits in the frame as well.

The first eight runs of the inning were charged to Railsback, the final run charged to Jake McCarter who allowed three hits and one run in 0.2 innings pitched.

DiPietro allowed five runs on nine hits, struck out three and walked two, coming off his magnificent eight-inning scoreless performance at Wichita his last time out. That performance, however, has been book-ended by DiPietro's first two losses of the season.

The Captains look to rebound from the loss Tuesday night when they throw Aaron Cunningham (1-4, 6.41) to the mound against Josh Rainwater (6-1, 4.18). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:05. Tuesday nights at Fair Grounds Field are Captain Morgan & Maker's Mark Two-Fer Tuesday with two-for-one on admission and any Captain Morgan or Maker's Mark drink.

Season tickets and single-game tickets 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 June 20, 2011


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