Morrison stops Captains to give AirHogs series win

Published on August 16, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Grand Prairie AirHogs closer James Morrison has been a workhorse this season, leading the league in games pitched at 42 coming into Sunday night. Despite having thrown 21 pitches in an inning Saturday, the righty was summoned with his team leading the Shreveport-Bossier Captains 6-3 with one out in the eighth inning, and the potential tying run at the plate.

Morrison was plenty up to the challenge, striking out pinch-hitter Kevin Griffin on three pitches, inducing a groundout by Angelo Fermin, before getting the Captains in order 1-2-3 in the ninth to pick up his 15th save of the year and give Grand Prairie a two-out-of-three series victory at QuikTrip Park as well as a 11-10 season series win against the Captains in the 6-3 triumph.

The AirHogs closer was the fifth pitcher of the night for Grand Prairie (42-42, 19-17 2nd half), which once again leapfrogged the Captains (40-43, 18-17) into second place behind Pensacola in the South Division second half standings. Lefty Cody Crowell (8-4) started and pitched into the sixth, holding the Captains off the board through the first five.

Grand Prairie went to work in the first off Captains starter Thad Markray (4-9), who was coming off a great start against Fort Worth last week. Daniel Berg singled with one out off the veteran righty, before stealing second and scoring on a single by Mike Conroy to right. Javier Brito then hit a fly ball down the leftfield line that eluded Bryan Sabatella and bounced into the seats for a ground-rule double, before a wild pitch on strike three to Chad Gabriel brought in Conroy to make it 2-0.

The AirHogs added another run in the third on an RBI hit by JB Tucker, and made it 4-0 when Cesar Nicolas hit a solo homer to left on a fastball that appeared to be at least letter-high from Markray. Shreveport-Bossier's starter managed to go five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, with three walks and four strikeouts.

Shreveport-Bossier had two on in the fourth and fifth against Crowell, but could not get a runner to third base, before finally chasing him in the fifth. The lefty walked Andres Rodriguez to start the frame, and after ball one to Jose Torres was removed for righty Lee Gronkiewicz. The veteran threw two strikes to Torres, but hung a 1-2 curveball that Torres hooked into the seats in left for a two-run homer, cutting the Grand Prairie lead in half.

After Tony Pierce threw a 1-2-3 sixth, he allowed a leadoff single to Garza before a sacrifice bunt and intentional walk put two on and one out for Conroy, who flied out to the track. Matt Petty then came on to face Brito, who singled up the middle to make it 5-2, before Gabriel singled to right to give the AirHogs a 6-2 advantage.

The Captains came back in the eighth against Alex Morales, who allowed a double to Rodriguez, and one-out singles to Luis Guance and Jonathan Reynoso to make it 6-3, but Morrison came on and slammed the door on the Captains the rest of the way.

Notes: The Captains first three hitters went 1-for-14 with five strikeouts...Rodriguez walked twice in a game for the second time in a row after not doing at all before Saturday's game...Torres tied Rodriguez for the team lead in homers with six, and Torres has hit all of them against Grand Prairie and Fort Worth...Pierce was removed from the disabled list before the game and Luke Massetti, who re-injured his groin on Friday night, was placed on the DL...Before the game the Captains traded closer Justin Dowdy to Wichita for lefty Richard Salazar, who will make his Captains debut as the starter Monday night against Pensacola.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains return home on Monday, August 17 for Jose Cuervo Presents Margarita Monday, with half-priced margaritas all night long for the start of a pivotal three-game series against first-place Pensacola. Game time is at 7:05 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.

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American Association Stories from August 16, 2009


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