Second half begins with record loss

Published on July 7, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas. - The first two outs of innings were relatively easy for Thad Markray to get Monday night, but the third out would be a challenge, as Markray gave up seven two-out runs and the Shreveport-Bossier Captains allowed a total of 16 runs with two outs, beginning the second half of the 2009 season with an American Association-record 18-0 defeat at QuikTrip Park.

Jose Cordero (4-1) hurled a five-hit shutout as Grand Prairie (24-25, 1-0 second half) scored two in the first and 10 in a 14-batter fifth inning to break the game open to break the previous record for largest margin of victory in an American Association game, which was 16 by St. Joe over St. Paul in 2007.

Markray (3-7) got the first two outs of the bottom of the first, but Cesar Nicolas doubled to right, and Markray then walked the next two hitters to load the bases. Chad Gabriel then bounced one up the middle that Richard Paz fielded but threw wide to shortstop Dan Williams at second, allowing two runs to score on what was ruled a single.

The Captains (22-27, 0-1) had chances in the third, fourth and fifth against Cordero, who has mostly been a reliever this season but was making his fourth start of 2009. With two on and one out in the third, Dwayne White flied out and Christopher Garcia grounded out, with two on and no one out in the fourth, Selwyn Langaigne hit into a double play, and with one on and no one out in the fifth Tommy Bryant also bounced into a twin killing.

Then the AirHogs went to work in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and a runner at second, the league leader in RBIs, Nicolas, battled from an 0-2 count and grounded a single to right to make it 3-0. After a walk to Mike Conroy Javier Brito doubled, Chad Gabriel singled, Ron Fenwick walked and JB Tucker doubled to make it 8-0 and knock out Markray. B.J. Litchfield came on and gave up a single to Drew Holder to make it 9-0, before an error by Garcia at third and a three-run homer by Brandon Carter to right capped the carnage at 10 runs, eight hits, two walks, an error, and 14 batters in the fifth.

Grand Prairie got two more in the sixth off Nathaniel Fornea, including a leadoff homer to right by Brito, before Robert Romero settled things down a bit with a 1-2-3 seventh, the only such inning for Captains pitching in the game. With the Captains going down meekly against Cordero, manager Ricky VanAsselberg turned to rookie infielder Joe Urtuzuastegui to get the final three outs on the mound in order to preserve his bullpen. Urtuzuastegui actually turned in a decent effort, with the first batter he faced, Gabriel, reaching on an error by Garcia. After Fenwick hit a bloop single and Tucker singled cleanly, Urtuzuastegui got a foul out from Holder and a check-swing strikeout on Aaron Garza for two outs.

But Carter singled home a run, Nicolas doubled home two more, and Conroy singled home a fourth before Brito flied out to end the inning. Overall, Urtuzuastegui's pro pitching debut consisted of one inning, with five hits, four unearned runs, no walks and one strikeout, with 22 pitches and 17 strikes.

Cordero, meanwhile, picked up his third career complete game and second career shutout by limiting the Captains to two singles, two doubles and a triple, striking out six, walking three and hitting none. He retired the final five men he faced, getting B.J. Wheeler to ground out back to him to end the game.

Notes: Markray has now lost four straight starts...All nine AirHogs had at least two hits and a run scored, with only Holder only scoring one...Four players had at least three RBIs led by Carter's four, two more had two RBIS each and Conroy had a lone run driven in...Grand Prairie was 13-for-21 with two outs in the game...Paz was activated from the inactive list after having injured his collarbone on May 31 at El Paso. Langaigne (hip) played for the first time since June 28...The Captains released infielder Josh Collazo on Sunday to make room for Paz's return.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains continue their series at the Grand Prairie AirHogs Tuesday, July 7, at 7:05 p.m. The Captains then return home to face North Division first-half champion Wichita on Friday, July 10, at 7:05 p.m., with 1st Choice Personnel Batting Helmet Giveaway Night. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Association Stories from July 7, 2009


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