Pelicans Start Strong but Falter; Air Hogs Claim Victory 12-5

Published on June 5, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release

The Pelicans started out strong, but the game was all but lost at the end of the third inning in a 12-5 drubbing by the Grand Prairie Air Hogs. Pensacola had the lead in the first, second, and third, but dropped the second straight game to their Texan hosts.

All was well for the Pels in the first inning, as Leandro and Christison walked to start the game. Antoin Gray followed with a single to load the bases, when Rafael Alvarez stepped to the plate. Starting pitcher Cody Crowell hit Alvarez with a pitch, and the Pelicans were on the board. Luis Guance followed and Crowell walked him to put the Pelicans up 2-0. After a double play and a ground out to second, the Pelicans stranded two runners to end the half inning.

Grand Prairie scored two to tie it in the bottom of the second, but the Pelicans went back up in the top of the third. Dallas Christison and Antoin Gray each hit a single, and when the next batter grounded out to first, both moved up a base. Luis Guance followed with a double that scored both runners, and the Pelicans were back on top by two.

Grand Prairie answered back loudly, scoring seven runs in the third inning for the second game in a row. At the end of it, Espinosa, Nicolas, and Nicholson has all batted twice in the inning, and the Air Hogs were up 9-4 heading to the fourth.

Grand Prairie added another run in the bottom of the fifth when David Espinoza hit a sacrifice fly to score Noel Trevino. Pensacola matched the run in the sixth. Guance walked, then moved to second on a groundout. Marcos Rodriguez hit an RBI single to centerfield to put up the Pelicans fifth run, but that's all they would get.

The Air Hogs added two more in the bottom of the sixth to take a 12-5 lead that would stand until the end. Jose Cordero took the win for Grand Prairie, improving to 2-0. Dan Smith was hit with the loss, and fell to 0-2. Ulysses Roque pitched a hitless, scoreless eighth for the Pelicans, striking out one.

The teams play the final game of this series tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The Pelicans will throw RHP Kyle Middleton against RHP Matt Green. The game will be broadcast live on the Pelicans' flagship station, NewsRadio 1620, with pregame starting at 6:50. SportsJuice.com will carry a webcast; a link is available on the Pelicans website, www.pensacolapelicans.com.

American Association Stories from June 5, 2009

• American Association Recap June 6 - AA
• Explorers Extend There Winning Streak - Sioux City Explorers
• Pelicans Start Strong but Falter; Air Hogs Claim Victory 12-5 - Pensacola Pelicans
• Big Inning Leads Diablos Past Cats 4-2 - Fort Worth Cats
• Saints Come Home and Lose 6-5 - St. Paul Saints
• Captains Drop Another Close One in See-Saw Battle - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
• Grand Prairie Cruises Past Pensacola With a Final Score of 12-5 - Grand Prairie AirHogs
• Canaries Return Home with 6-5 Win - Sioux Falls Canaries
• Medina, Muich Roll Over Dogs - Wichita Wingnuts
• Wichita Shuts Down Lincoln Bats - Lincoln Saltdogs
• Two More Additions Cap Flurry of Roster Moves - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
• Saltdogs Bring Back Balet - Lincoln Saltdogs
• June 5 Pelicans Post: Games on 1620 AM, Famous SD Chicken, Teachers Night, and Brides! - Pensacola Pelicans
• Pels on the Air on NewsRadio 1620 - Pensacola Pelicans

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