Gulledge Brings Cats Back to Split Series

Published on July 12, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - The Shreveport-Bossier Captains had been 25-2 when leading after seven innings going into their four-game series finale against the Fort Worth Cats Monday night. But Cats catcher Kelley Gulledge helped Fort Worth avoid that trend, as he hit an eighth-inning solo homer and drove in the tying and winning runs with a two-out, two-run single off Captains closer Hector Carrasco, as the Cats edged the Captains 6-5 to earn a split of the four-game set in front of 939 at Fair Grounds Field.

The top of the ninth inning was eerily similar to Carrasco's last outing, when the Cats (22-31, 4-3 2nd half) beat him on Friday night. Just as was the case then, Carrasco (1-3) walked the leadoff hitter, then the Captains (31-23, 2-5) made an error on a sacrifice bunt. In this game, it was a four-pitch walk to ninth-place hitter Nick McCoola before second baseman Jorge Alvarez dropped a throw at first on Kennard Bibbs's sacrifice bunt.

Brian Fryer came up next and bunted the runners over, before an intentional walk to Cesar Suarez loaded the bases. Carrasco struck out John Allen, but Gulledge smacked a 1-0 pitch up the middle for his fourth hit of the game and the win for Fort Worth.

Closer Dustin Cameron shook off two earlier blown saves himself in the series and got the Captains 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, picking up his 11th save of the season.

The loss cost Osvaldo Rodriguez a chance at his ninth win of the year, as the Captains' All-Star righty went six innings, allowing six hits and three runs, with three walks and seven strikeouts. He outdueled Dwayne Pollok, who surrendered four runs in the first three innings and five overall (with four earned), allowing 10 hits and two walks against two strikeouts.

But the Cats bullpen duo of Gary Lee (3-2), who went two shutout innings to get the win, and Cameron bested the Captains' pair of Jameson Maj (who allowed Gulledge's homer in the eighth) and Carrasco, after Justin Young pitched a 1-2-3 seventh in relief of Rodriguez.

Notes: Eight of the nine Captains had hits.Uriak Marquez drove in three runs but only had one hit, an RBI single. He also had a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout.Andres Rodriguez had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.The Captains outhit the Cats 12-9 in the game but did make three errors to Fort Worth's two.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their seven-game homestand with three games against the El Paso Diablos, starting at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13. It is Captain Morgan & Maker's Mark Twofer Tuesday, with two-for-one admission to Fair Grounds Field and two-for-one Makers Mark and Captain Morgan beverages. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM as well as streaming live on supertalk1340.com. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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American Association Stories from July 12, 2010


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