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Massetti Outduels Middleton for Sixth Straight Win

July 14, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - The Shreveport-Bossier Captains have not exactly beat up on Pensacola Pelicans ace Kyle Middleton this season, as the righty All-Star has allowed just three earned runs in 36 2/3 innings against Shreveport-Bossier this season. But the Captains have now beaten him twice, as their two runs and righty Luke Massetti were just enough to edge Pensacola 2-1 in front of 1,620 fans at Fair Grounds Field on Tuesday night.

The win was the sixth in a row for Shreveport-Bossier (28-27, 6-1 2nd half), as they took a two-game lead in the second half over both Pensacola (28-27, 4-3) and Fort Worth, who also lost on Tuesday.

Bryan Sabatella, whom the Captains acquired for future considerations from Lancaster of the Atlantic League earlier in the day, started both Shreveport-Bossier run-scoring rallies. Playing first base and leading off, Sabatella singled off Middleton (4-2) to start the bottom of the first. He then tried to steal second, but no one was there to take the throw from catcher Lou Palmisano, allowing Sabatella to go to third on the error, which was charge to second baseman Antoin Gray.

After Richard Paz grounded out without Sabatella scoring, Christopher Garcia battled Middleton from an 0-2 count and managed to line a ball to left-center for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 Shreveport-Bossier lead.

Massetti (5-1) allowed no more than one base runner in six of his seven innings, with the one exception being the third, when the Pelicans tied the game. Luis Guance led off the frame with a single down the rightfield line, and then stole second. A grounder to second by Francisco Leandro moved him to third, and after a walk and a foul-out, Marcos Rodriguez laced a single to left-center to tie the game.

But in the fifth, Sabatella got on again with a base hit up the middle with one out. He then broke for second and again Palmisano's throw went into center, this time with the error charged to him that allowed Sabatella to go to third. Paz then lined a single to right to bring home Sabatella with the final run of the game.

Garcia followed Paz with a bloop single, but the Captains did not get a baserunner after that, as Middleton worked seven before Tyler Wilson got the final three outs. But Massetti faced the minimum in the fourth, fifth and sixth, and worked around a stolen base-error, getting Guance to ground out to short with the potential tying run at third.

Massetti went seven innings in his second start since being activated from the disabled list, allowing six singles and one walk with one strikeout. Jakob Cunningham pitched an easy 1-2-3 eighth inning, and then Justin Dowdy finished off the Pelicans with a 1-2-3 ninth with a pair of swinging K's, including getting Rafael Alvarez to finish it off.



American Association Stories from July 14, 2009


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