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Mallett spoils regular season home finale

August 26, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - There were three possibilities for the regular season-ending four-game series at Pensacola when Wednesday night's action began. After a pair of one-run thrillers, the picture is now crystal clear - the Shreveport-Bossier Captains must beat the Pelicans four straight to make the playoffs, or Pensacola will earn the right to face Fort Worth in the South Division Championship series. While Pensacola lost 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fort Worth Wednesday, the Captains were shut down by El Paso Diablos righty Justin Mallett 2-1 in front of 1,794 fans at Fair Grounds Field.

Mallett (7-4) pitched eight innings, allowed only an unearned run in the second, on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He outdueled reigning American Association Pitcher of the Week Thad Markray (5-10), who went seven innings, allowing both Diablos runs on eight hits, with a walk and three punchouts.

All the scoring happened in the first two innings of the game. As they did in the previous game, the Diablos (39-53, 18-26 2nd half) got a run from a two-out, no-one on situation. Arnoldo Ponce singled off Markray's glove to start the rally, Juan Camacho singled to right to move Ponce to second, and Jeff Vincent lined a single up the middle to start the scoring. In the second, Jerry Verastegui led off with a single, went to third on Hector Bernal's hit, and scored on a slow grounder to second by Kennard Bibbs.

Shreveport-Bossier (46-46, 24-20 2nd half) got its lone run in the bottom of the second. Jorge Alvarez reached on an error to start the inning, and moved to second on a walk to Dwayne White. Luis Guance then bunted the runners over, and Kevin Griffin's grounder to second brought Alvarez in from third. But starting from Guance's bunt, Mallett retired 11 straight hitters before a two-out double by Tommy Bryant in the fifth. Mallet then retired the next four, before Alvarez singled to start the seventh.

After taking a strike and missing a bunt, Jose Torres took a called strike three, Guance flied out to right on a hit-and-run attempt. Kevin Griffin then singled to right, but Bryant grounded out to third to end the threat. Bryan Sabatella led off the eighth with a single and stole second, but Dwayne White flied out to left, Christopher Garcia struck out and Rodriguez fouled out on a spectacular catch by Vincent down the rightfield line.

Closer Mike Cervera took over in the ninth, and Alvarez singled off of him to start the frame. But Torres missed a hit-and-run pitch and Alvarez was caught stealing for the first out. Torres did end up working a walk, but Cervera struck out Guance and Griffin for his eighth save of the year.

Notes: The Captains finished the regular season 27-21 at home, and 6-10 against El Paso...The Captains final regular season attendance was 86,635, up 28,660 from last season, or 49 percent. Jason Herman pitched two scoreless frames to finish things up for the Captains...Shreveport-Bossier was 1-for-13 with runners on base in the game.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains finish the regular season with four games against the Pensacola Pelicans, starting Thursday, August 27 at 6:35 p.m. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. 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.



American Association Stories from August 26, 2009


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