Prairie Dogs Keep Rolling in San Angelo

Published on June 21, 2012 under North American League (NAmL)
Abilene Prairie Dogs News Release


SAN ANGELO, TX - It has taken some time for Abilene, but it appears as if the Prairie Dogs have found the winning formula in 2012. The Dogs got multiple contributions on Thursday night as they came up with their sixth win in eight games with a 9-7 triumph in San Angelo.

Shawn Kale made his professional debut, and the 22-year-old righty hurled 32/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits in a no decision. Braden Tullis, who has traveled to and from the inactive list over the past 48 hours, appeared in relief to pick up the victory. Tullis tossed 31/3 innings and gave up just a single run on two hits.

The Colts began the scoring in the first on a Landon Camp R.B.I. single, but Abilene responded with the game-tying run in the top of the second inning when Chris Caves drove in a run on a fielder's choice.

The Colts made it a three-run advantage when Jason Diaz cleared the bases with a triple to make it a 4-1 San Angelo lead after two innings.

But the Dogs have shown an otherwise unseen resilience over the past week and it resurfaced on Thursday night. Wilson Batista worked a two-out walk in the top of the third and then Joe Weik hammered a single through the left side of the infield to put two runners aboard for Kyle Nichols. Nichols, who is now 10 for his last 18, blasted a two-run double into the left-field corner to cut the lead to one. The next batter was Chris Caves who smoked a game-tying single into right field.

The Colts moved into the lead for the third time when Ronnie Gaines scored on a Tullis wild pitch in the fourth - the run was charged to Kale who departed after walking Gaines with two outs.

The subplot of Thursday night's contest was the unsteady play of the Colts defense. The trouble began in the fifth when Adam De La Garza was hit by a pitch from San Angelo starter Brian Henschel. Wilson Batista then smoked sinking liner through Daryl Jones' legs at first base. As the ball rolled into right-field, Jam Walton was unable to handle it cleanly, allowing De La Garza to score and tie the game at five.

The Colts experienced some more defensive struggles in top of the seventh. With two outs and a runner on first, Joe Weik rolled a grounded toward shortstop Danny Hernandez whose low throw to first sizzled past Jones. With runners on the corners and two outs, Nichols made the home team pay for their sloppy defense with single to right to make it a 6-5 game. Caves, who finished the game 3-5 with three R.B.I., then cracked a double off the left-field wall to score Weik and give the Dogs a two-run lead. Brian Henschel then departed after 62/3 innings, he allowed seven runs (four eanred) on 10 hits and was tagged with his third loss.

The Colts drew to within one on Jason Crossland's sacrifice fly in the seventh. But leading 7-6 headed into the ninth, the Dogs unloaded on reliever Chris Weast. Joe Weik smashed the first pitch he saw over the wall in left and Kyle Nichols did the same to help Abilene take a 9-6 lead.

Gunner Glad pitched a scoreless eighth inning and returned to the hill in the ninth in search of his first save. The righty allowed the first two batters to single and brought the tying run to the plate. However, he then fanned Jason Crossland and induced a pair of groundouts from Jamar Walton and Jason Banda to end the game.

The Dogs and Colts matchup in game five of this eight game series with another game in San Angelo at 7:05 on Friday night.

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North American League Stories from June 21, 2012


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