Mitchell Throws Another CG As Sox Deny Sweep

Published on August 4, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- For the second straight start against the Grand Prairie AirHogs, Amarillo Sox righty Ryan Mitchell tossed a complete game - this time overcoming an early four-run deficit to beat the AirHogs 5-4 in front of 1,456 fans on Thursday at QuikTrip Park.

Mitchell's excellent outing prevented the AirHogs (48-28) from completing a four-game sweep of the Sox (36-41), but early on it looked like Grand Prairie would find a way to get to Mitchell (5-5). Danny Figueroa led off the bottom of the first and was hit by a pitch, moving to second on David Thomas's ground-rule double. David Espinosa then grounded out to second, bringing in Figueroa and moving Thomas to third. Cesar Nicolas followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

The AirHogs doubled the lead in the second, as Chris McMurray doubled to start the frame and scored when Van Pope threw away Guillermo Martinez's bunt. Martinez then stole third and scored on another RBI groundout, this time by Thomas, to five Grand Prairie a 4-0 lead.

But Mitchell allowed no walks and four hits the rest of the way, getting all four of his strikeouts from the third inning on.

Meanwhile, the Sox did nothing in the first four innings against rookie Trent Montgomery in his second start, getting two infield singles, one outfield single and an error. But in the fifth, a one-out double by Alex Chavez put them in the board, and Fehlandt Lentini's two-out RBI single put Amarillo within two.

Pope singled to start the sixth, and Tim Alberts then hit a grounder to third. Nicolas threw to Espinosa for one out, but the relay throw was just too late to get Alberts at first. AirHogs manager Ricky VanAsselberg argued the call and was ejected by umpire Justin Post, and after that the AirHogs' lead left the building as well.

Montgomery walked Kevin Butler and was removed for Jason Moody (0-1), who got the second out on a groundout by Jeremy Sauceda that moved the runners to second and third. Chavez then singled to right, and Tyler Henley bobbled the ball, allowing Butler to score the tying run and Chavez to go to second on the ensuing throw. Jason White then singled to bring in Chavez, and that was all the Sox and Mitchell needed.

Notes: Stephen Douglas again sat out Thursday after suffering from dehydration on Wednesday...Bo Schultz (two innings) and Jon Fulton (one) kept the Sox off the board for the final three innings...The AirHogs stole three bases in three attempts while the Sox were 1-for-2.

The AirHogs now head off for a seven-game road trip, beginning Friday, August 5, in Lincoln, Neb., against the Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. The next home game at QuikTrip Park is Friday, August 12, for Faith and Family Night, featuring a postgame concert and testimonies of praise from former and current athletes. The game begins at 6:05 p.m. 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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