Jennings Dominates as AirHogs Take Series from Cats

Published on June 15, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


Jason Jennings struck out 10 in a three-hit, one-run, seven-inning performance to help the AirHogs beat the Cats 8-1 in Fort Worth on Wednesday. Photo credit: Walter Tenery

FORT WORTH, Texas -- In a rare American Association matchup where both starting pitchers were former Major League Baseball players, the Grand Prairie AirHogs' Jason Jennings out-pitched his counterpart Mike Bacsik of the Fort Worth Cats, as Grand Prairie beat Fort Worth 8-1 to take the three-game series two-out-of-three, the fifth series win in five tries for the AirHogs away from QuikTrip Park.

Jennings (4-1) became the first AirHogs starter to hit double-digit strikeouts, as he fanned 10 Cats, nine of them swinging, allowing only three hits and two walks in seven innings. He allowed two of his hits in the second, as the Cats (14-18) tied the game at 1-1 on a two-out single by Derek Kinzler - but Trent Lockwood was hosed at the plate by centerfielder Danny Figueroa to end the inning and keep the game tied.

The AirHogs' righty did not allow two baserunners in an inning again until the seventh, but he struck out Johnathon Moore and Kinzler after a double and a walk, and got Cory Morales to ground out to end his night.

Meanwhile, Grand Prairie (22-10) got an RBI single by Cesar Nicolas to take a first-inning lead for the second time in three games, and then took the lead for good on a two-out rally in the fifth. It started when David Thomas doubled to right-center off Bacsik (1-3), before Nicolas walked and Greg Porter just cleared the left-field wall with his fourth home run of the year to give the AirHogs a 4-1 lead.

Grand Prairie tacked on another run in the sixth on a Guillermo Martinez triple and Zane Chavez single, before putting the game away with three in the ninth, with Thomas driving in two with a triple and Porter singling in Thomas to give him four RBIs on the night.

Notes: Cats pitching coach Mike Bacsik, Sr., was ejected by home plate umpire Danny Hymel after arguing from the dugout that Chavez should have been called out on strikes on a check swing right before his RBI single in the sixth. After being tossed, Bacsik came out to home plate with a bat and animatedly pantomimed what he felt was a full swing by Chavez along with the "safe" call on the check swing before eventually departing for the clubhouse...Lockwood was also thrown out by Hymel after taking a 3-0 strike in the bottom of the ninth inning...Eight AirHogs had at least one hit and all nine hitters reached base safely at least once...Lockwood did have two of the three Fort Worth hits...The AirHogs are now 13-3 on the road this season...Grand Prairie is also 3-0 in road rubber matches this year.

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The AirHogs conclude now begin a four-game homestand, starting Thursday, June 16, at 7:05 p.m. against the El Paso Diablos, with Thirsty Thursday, featuring $2 16-oz. beers and Coors Light Jerseys off our Backs Night, with a chance to win the specialty jerseys that the AirHogs will wear that night.. Don't miss the renewed commitment to excellence and affordable family entertainment. All games are available with live, free streaming video on ustream.tv. Individual game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 972-504-9383 or by visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com.

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American Association Stories from June 15, 2011


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