Pelicans Outslug Sports

Published on August 6, 2008 under American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


The Pensacola Pelicans (11-22) offense showed up in a big way Wednesday night as they defeated the Shreveport Sports (8-25) 9-7. The Pelicans put up big innings in the first and fourth innings to down the Sports. The dagger for the Sports came in the fourth when Josh Morgan knocked a big three run homer to give the Pelicans the lead and never looked back.

In the first, the Pelicans scored three runs on a pair of walks and hit batters to jump on top 3-0. With no one down and bases loaded, Rafael Alvarez got hit by the pitch to bring home Francisco Leandro, who walked. Jack Joffrion legged out an infield single with bases still loaded to score Evan Conley. Morgan followed up with a walk to bring home Matt Pali for the third and final run of the inning.

A defensive miscue by the Pelicans allowed the Sports to answer back with a run of their own in the top of the second. Chris Smith reached base on an error by Pels' shortstop, Dallas Christison and advanced to third on a single Justin Phillips. A wild pitch by Zach Cline scored Smith for the Sports' first run of the ballgame.

With one down in the top of the third, five consecutive Sports' batters would reach base to drive in three runs. Tommy Bryant knocked a two run homerun that barely squeaked over the left field fence to tie the game up at three. With runners on first and second, Phillips knocked an RBI single to center to give the Sports a short lived 4-3 lead

A bases loaded walk by the Pelicans' Conley in the bottom half of the third brought in Joffrion to tie the game at four.

The Pelicans took the lead in the fourth off the big bat of Morgan. With two runners on, Morgan blasted a three run homerun deep over the left center field fence to give the Pelicans a 7-5 lead.

The Sports tacked on a run in the top of the fifth of Pels' reliever Dane DeValk. Smith singled with one out and advanced to second on a walk and to third on a groundout. A wild pitch brought home Smith to cut down the Pelicans lead to two.

A two out rally by the Pelicans in the bottom of the fifth scored a run to bring their lead back to three. Alvarez doubled into the left center field gap to get things going for the Pels. Chris Reynolds knocked in Alvarez on an RBI single up the middle to give the Pels a 8-5 lead.

The Pelicans tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth to put the score at 9-5. Christison singled, stole second and scored on a Leandro double down the right field line.

In the top of the eighth, a couple of errors by the Pelicans defense allowed the Sports to come within two.

Paul Phillips came on in the ninth to record his first save of the season and give the Pels a 9-7 win.

John Web will take the mound tomorrow in game two of the three game set against the Sports.

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American Association Stories from August 6, 2008


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