Nine-Run Seventh Gives AirHogs Comeback Win

Published on June 17, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- With one hit in their first eight at-bats with runners in scoring position on Thursday, the Grand Prairie AirHogs were a frustrated bunch as they trailed the El Paso Diablos 5-1 in the seventh inning on Thursday night. But with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, the AirHogs finally got a big hit by Cesar Nicolas. Then they got another, followed by an error and a hit batter to tie the game. Two more hits gave the AirHogs the lead, and they went on to beat the Diablos 10-6 in front of 2,112 fans at QuikTrip Park.

But the 13-batter, nine-run (and only four-hit) inning was marred by a benches-clearing brawl. After Chris McMurray tripled to make the score 9-5, Diablos pitcher Ray Silva hit Danny Figueroa in the back with the next pitch. With the Diablos dealing with the frustration of their seven-game losing streak and the AirHogs (23-10) miffed that Figueroa was now the 10th batter hit by Diablos in four games between the clubs, tensions boiled over.

AirHogs manager Ricky VanAsselberg began shouting at Silva, and when they continued to argue, the benches cleared and a pile-on ensued. After more shouting and finger-pointing, things settled down, but not before VanAsselberg, Silva, Grand Prairie first baseman Nicolas and reliever Jon Fulton and El Paso relievers Juan Medina and Jon Plefka were all ejected.

Despite the brawl, the AirHogs did manage perhaps their finest comeback of the year to make a surprise winner out of Josh Rainwater (6-1). After a long first two innings where the two teams combined to strand six runners with three more thrown out on the bases, El Paso (9-24) broke through with a two-run homer by Kyle Nichols in the third. The Diablos added three more in the fourth on a two-run double by Stephen Douglas and a sacrifice fly by Albenis Machado, but Rainwater held them at bay after that, going seven innings, with nine hits and the five runs, along with two walks and a season-high-tying nine strikeouts. Rainwater allowed just one hit after the sac fly, striking out six of the final 11 men he faced.

Reymond Cruz kept the AirHogs frustrated through his six innings, giving up six hits and three walks, but got two outs at the plate, struck out seven, and allowed only one run to score. But when he left in the seventh, the floodgates opened. Albert Montes hit Zane Chavez to start the inning, and then Figueroa reached on a fielder's choice when Machado could not beat pinch-runner McMurray to second base on a grounder. After David Espinosa struck out, David Thomas walked to load the bases.

Nicolas grounded a single through the left side to cut the El Paso lead to 5-3, and Juan Medina (0-2) came on to face Greg Porter. The AirHogs slugger bounced a ball over the mound that second baseman Antoin Gray could not field cleanly as he slipped, allowing Thomas to come all the way around from second to score on an infield hit. After Jake Taylor reached on an error, Diablos manager Jorge Alvarez summoned Silva, his closer, to try to stop the bleeding. But he hit Tyler Henley on a slider that broke too far in to force in the tying run, before Guillermo Martinez singled up the middle to give Grand Prairie its first lead of the night at 7-5 and McMurray launched a triple to center to make it a four-run game.

Then Silva hit Figueroa to spark the brawl, but El Paso was held to one run in the final two innings by Dustin Cameron and Jon Hunton, making sure there would only be one big comeback in this game.

Notes: Because of the ejections and an earlier injury to John Alonso, Porter had to move from the designated hitter spot to first base, making the AirHogs pitchers hit. Jakob Cunningham (also a pitcher) pinch-hit for Cameron the one time that spot came up, and he struck out in his first professional at-bat...McMurray, who was signed yesterday after spending the first three-plus years of his career in the Reds organization, scored two runs and drove in two in one inning where he entered as a pinch-runner...Neither Medina nor Silva retired a batter...The teams each used 15 of their available 22 players.

The AirHogs continue their four-game series with the Diablos on Friday, June 17, at 7:05 p.m. It is Teacher Appreciation Night, with teachers getting the best available seat for just $5, along with Church Youth Group Night and National Home Ownership Night, presented by the City of Grand Prairie. 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

www.airhogsbaseball.com

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