Rainwater, Balanced Attack Give 'Hogs Series Win

Published on July 13, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- In his last start, Josh Rainwater threw 8 2/3 shutout innings before tiring in the ninth against Amarillo. On Wednesday, he finished what he started, helping the Grand Prairie AirHogs to an 11-4 win over the Fort Worth Cats in front of 2,298 fans at QuikTrip Park with a complete game effort.

Rainwater (10-2), the American Association's first double-digit winner this season, induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play from Butch Ballez on his 107th pitch of the night as the AirHogs (39-18) scored the game's final nine runs to move a season-high 21 games over .500.

It was not easy early for Grand Prairie, though, as the Cats (25-31) took the lead on Kelley Gulledge's three-run home run in the third inning. The homer was not without controversy, though. After Rainwater walked number nine hitter Cory Morales to start the inning in a scoreless game, Aljay Davis tried to bunt him to second. The bunt rolled in front of the plate, and catcher Chris McMurray tried to throw to second to get Morales, but the throw was too late and runners were at first and second.

AirHogs manager Ricky VanAsselberg then came out and argued that Davis had hit his bunt twice, which should have been ruled a foul ball, negating the play. But the umpires did not agree, and two pitches after Gulledge's homer, VanAsselberg was ejected by home plate umpire Tony Senia. Replays do appear to show that Davis did make contact with the ball twice on the play, but it stood and the Cats led.

After getting only one baserunner (on a walk) in the first two innings off Fort Worth starter Wade Mackey (5-3), Grand Prairie took advantage of his wildness in the third. The righty walked the first three hitters of the frame before sacrifice flies by McMurray and David Espinosa brought the AirHogs to within one.

The Cats got their final run on a Morales RBI single in the fourth, and Rainwater allowed only three hits and no walks the rest of the way. Down 4-2, the AirHogs then took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Cesar Nicolas singled, and with two outs, Guillermo Martinez drew another walk. David Thomas then singled to bring in a run, and centerfielder Brian Fryer's throw to third bounced into the crowd to bring in Martinez with the tying run.

Tyler Henley then sliced a double down the leftfield line to give the AirHogs a 5-4 lead, and they knocked out Mackey with three more runs in the fifth, capped by John Alonso's two-run double.

The AirHogs got two more in the sixth and one in the seventh to finish the scoring, getting RBIs from eight players, hits from seven and runs scored from seven as well in their balanced attack.

Notes: VanAsselberg's ejection was his third of the year...Espinosa and Nicolas led the AirHogs with three hits a piece...Gulledge knocked in eight runs in the series, with seven coming on his grand slam Tuesday and the three-run blast tonight...The AirHogs are now 7-3 against the Cats this year...Grand Prairie drew nine walks and did not strike out once in the game.

The AirHogs have Thursday off before welcoming in the Wichita Wingnuts for three games at QuikTrip Park, starting on Friday, July 15, at 7:05 p.m. It is the usual Teacher Appreciation Night, where all high school teachers can get in for $5, and it is also Country-Western Night, where all fans wearing cowboy boots, hats, or any other appropriate attire can also get a $5 ticket. Don't miss the renewed commitment to excellence and affordable family entertainment. All games are available with live, free streaming video on ustream.tv. Individual game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 972-504-9383 or by visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com

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American Association Stories from July 13, 2011


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