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Pelicans end Captains' playoff hopes

August 28, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. - It was all hands on deck for the Shreveport-Bossier Captains on Friday night, desperately trying to find a way to beat the Pensacola Pelicans and keep the possibility of a playoff berth alive. Unfortunately Ricky VanAsselberg's crew could not keep the Pelicans offense down all night, and the Pelicans beat the Captains 8-3 to clinch the South Division second half title at Pelican Park.

The night started well for the Captains (47-47, 25-21 2nd half), as Christopher Garcia launched his fifth homer of the season with two outs in the first off Randy Beam (10-7) to give Shreveport-Bossier a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Pelicans (52-42, 28-18) had a runner at first with two outs, but Ronald Lowe (7-10) walked the next two hitters. Up came lefty hitter Marcos Rodriguez, and he lined a 2-0 pitch up the middle off the lefthander Lowe for a two-run single and a 2-1 Pensacola lead.

Shreveport-Bossier tied it in the top of the second on a double by former Pelican Luis Guance to bring in Jose Torres from first, but Lowe could not hold the tie in the bottom half. With one out, Lowe hit both Adam Darby and Francisco Leandro on two-strike breaking balls, before walking Kevin Reynolds to load the bases.

VanAsselberg went to his bullpen quickly, and sidearmer Derrick Miramontes came in and struck out Marshall McDougall to keep the game tied. But after getting ahead of Antoin Gray 0-2, Miramontes missed on his next four deliveries to force in a run and give Pensacola a 3-2 lead. The game settled down after that, and stayed 3-2 into the fifth.

But Chase Burch and Rodriguez singled to start that inning, and Miramontes walked Dallas Christison to load the bases. The rookie righty did get Lou Palmisano to hit a grounder to second, but Jorge Alvarez bobbled it and everyone reached. VanAsselberg then called on Drew Coffey, who gave up a two-strike, two-run single to Darby, and then walked Francisco Leandro to reload the bases. The bullpen door opened again and Jason Harman emerged, getting Reynolds on a 1-2-3 double play and McDougall on a popup to keep things 6-2.

Shreveport-Bossier got an unearned run off new pitcher Ron Hill in the sixth on a single by Guance, but then did not get another baserunner the rest of the way. Hill went two, and Francisco Butto threw the final two innings to allow the Pelicans to celebrate their first postseason appearance since 2005.

Notes: The Captains six pitchers on the night combined for 10 walks, two hit batsmen and five wild pitches...Garcia and Guance each had two of the Captains' five hits...Pensacola left 13 men on base for the second straight game.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their four-game series against the Pensacola Pelicans on Saturday, August 29 at 6:05 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.



American Association Stories from August 28, 2009


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