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Offense Explodes as AirHogs Split Series

May 21, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- It might have taken a little spark from their manager's ejection, but the Grand Prairie AirHogs' offense finally came to life on Sunday night, as they scored 10 runs in the middle innings en route to a 12-4 win over the Laredo Lemurs at Uni-Trade Stadium on Sunday night.

The win earned the AirHogs (2-2) a split of the season-opening four-game series, and a measure of satisfaction before returning to Grand Prairie for Monday's home opener.

Although the margin was large at the end, with two outs in the top of the fourth it was 1-0 Laredo and the AirHogs had already lost Ricky VanAsselberg arguing a controversial call in the first. But the momentum changed on a grounder up the middle by Greg Porter, that Anthony Scelfo threw away. Trent Lockwood and David Thomas followed with singles to load the bases, and Zane Chavez knocked in a pair with a single to give Grand Prairie a 2-1 lead.

Laredo (2-2) tied it off Josh Strawn (1-0) with a Luis Uribe triple in the bottom half of the fourth, but Grand Prairie seized the lead for good in the fifth. Lefty Edwin Walker (0-1) came in for starter Stephen Kahn and gave up a bunt single to Keanon Simon. After Bridger Hunt sacrificed him to second, Brian Myrow looped a double to right to make it 3-2 and the AirHogs never looked back. Andres Rodriguez doubled to left for another run and Greg Porter tripled to right to give Grand Prairie a 5-2 edge, before Chavez's RBI single finished off the inning.

Grand Prairie added four more in the sixth, with two scoring on a Lockwood double to make it 10-2, and the rout was on.

Strawn went six innings, with eight hits and two runs allowed, walking no one while striking out four. Derrick Miramontes allowed a pair of unearned runs in the seventh, but Grand Prairie got them both back on a long home run by Chris McMurray in the ninth off former AirHogs closer Jon Hunton.

Mike Hart struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth and got a double play to erase a leadoff single in the ninth to finish things off for the AirHogs.

Notes: VanAsselberg's ejection was his first of the year and the first in Uni-Trade Stadium history...Yasutusu Nishimoto was also thrown out immediately after slamming down his helmet after being called out on a close play at first base to end the top of the fourth...Nine AirHogs had at least one hit and five had at least two...John Allen and Uribe each had three hits for Laredo.

The 2011 American Association Champion Grand Prairie AirHogs return home for the home opener on Monday, May 21, at 7:05 p.m. against the El Paso Diablos with a Championship Ring Ceremony presented by the Grand Prairie Parks & Recreation Department and Balfour. All games are aired live and for free on Ustream by clicking on the link on the AirHogs' home page or visiting http://www.ustream.tv/channel/airhogs-baseball with selected contests aired on Time Warner Cable's Texas Channel. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the AirHogs, check out the Web site at www.airhogsbaseball.com, or call the QuikTrip Park office at (972) 504-9383.

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