Prairie Dogs fall in San Angelo

July 2, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


SAN ANGELO, TX - It's safe to say that LHP Brian Smith has run into a rough patch. After posting one of the league's best ERA's through five starts, Smith has struggled to get out of the fifth inning in each of his last three starts. The fifth inning proved to be disastrous once again for Brian, as the San Angelo Colts bashed their way to a 10-4 victory.

The Colts got on the board first with a solo home run by SS Landon Camp to lead off the second inning. In the third, the Colts put Brian Smith on the ropes and loaded the bases with one out. However, the Spring Texas native induced a 5-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.

In the fourth inning, the Colts finally broke through. With one out 2B Ryan Hutson and 3B Jason Crosland both drew walks, two of the season-high five walks for Smith. LF Josh Banda then dropped a single into center field to take the lead 2-0. Smith came back to strike out C Michael Pair for the second out, but CF Ronnie Gaines continued his hot hitting vs the Prairie Dogs and singled through the left side to take a 3-0 lead for San Angelo.

In the top of the fifth, Joe Weik struck back. With 2 outs, 2B Adam De La Garza singled and 3B Wilson Batista followed him with a walk. Then the TCU product stepped to the plate and clubbed his league-leading 9th home run of the season to tie the game at 3. Weik raised his season batting average to a league-leading .407. He currently ranks among the league best in almost every major offensive category.

The 3-3 tie didn't last for long as 2B Ryan Hutson ripped a liner past the pitcher Brian Smith in the bottom of the 5th to make it 4-3. Jason Crosland followed him with a bloop base hit to right field to load the bases with 1 out. Smith then walked in a run to make it 5-3. C Michael Pair chopped a slow grounder to third baseman Wilson Batista and Hutson beat the throw home. Ronnie Gaines then ended the outing for Brian Smith with a 2-run single to right field.

Smith finished just 4 1/3 innings allowing 10 hits, 8 runs, walked 5 and struck out 2. He falls to 3-4 on the season and in his last three starts he is 0-3 with a 13.05 ERA. 3 starts ago, he had one of the United League's best ERA's at 2.73 but now sits at 5.86 for the season.

Brian Henschel improved to 3-4 on the season throwing 7 innings of 11 hit baseball. Henschel allowed 4 runs walked 2 and did not strike out a batter in an outing for the first time this season.

The Colts offense was led by CF Ronnie Gaines who went 2-5 with a run scored and 3 RBI. 1B Daryl Jones and RF Jamar Walton each recorded 2 hits and drove in a run. Newcomer 2B Ryan Hutson, playing in his second game with San Angelo, went 1-2, walked 3 times, scored a run and drove in one.

Notes: Joe Weik has homered in 3 of the last 6 games....Starter Brian Smith failed to get out of the fifth inning for the third consecutive start....Every Colt except for DH Cory Patton had a hit....Jason Martin was hit with a pitch for a league-leading 12th time this season....The Prairie Dogs have lost 8 of their last 10 games.

The Prairie Dogs and Colts return to Walt Driggers field for the finale of their 3 game series. Listen live to the First Financial Pre-Game Show at 6:55 on Abileneprairiedogs.com and 106.9 KLGD and the first pitch of Prairie Dogs baseball at 7:05pm.



North American League Stories from July 2, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central