Sox drop one at home

July 31, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Amarillo ThunderHeads News Release


AMARILLO, TX - The Sox were not able to come back on the Airhogs, losing 10-5 at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium. The game lasted two minutes over three hours in which 1,336 fans attended. Amarillo out-hit Grand Prairie thirteen to ten but made four errors compared to the two committed by the Airhogs.

The Sox put out their starter with seven wins, Ryan Mitchell. Grand Prairie used their seven-win starter as well, Josh Strawn. The first run of the game went to the Airhogs in the second with a solo shot to left center off the bat of Palmer Karr. Mitchell would retire the next three batters consecutively in that inning. Amarillo was able to get runners on with walks in the first and second but both innings would end on double plays.

The top of third resulted in another run for the Airhogs as Rian Kiniry scored on a groundball error committed by KC Serna. Serna singled in the bottom of the inning, stole second, but was left stranded. The Sox were able to turn to which ended the fourth inning after Mitchell gave up a single with one out. The Sox would end the fourth hitting into double play turned by the shortstop, Yasutsugu Nishimoto and second basemen, Ryan Pineda for the Airhogs.

A bunt single by Nishimoto led off the fifth for Grand Prairie followed by a Rian Kiniry single. With two on, Serna committed another error on a slow grounder which scored Nishimoto. The next batter reached on a Chris Grossman errant throw to first on a bunt. Ryan Mitchell walked the next batter with the basses loaded to make the deficit for the Sox, 4-0. Mitchell would strike out Andres Rodriguez looking and then got Karr to fly out to right with the bases still loaded. But on the next at-bat, Ryan Pineda doubled off the left field wall to drive in the fifth and sixth runs for Grand Prairie.

Amarillo answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on two hits, including the RBI-double by KC Serna. Matt Larkins recorded the last out of the fifth and then pitched a one-two-three sixth for the Sox. In the bottom of the sixth, Amarillo started the inning with three straight singles and a run batted in by Jorge Delgado. Two batters later, Cory Patton singled in a run to make it 6-3. The Sox left two runners in scoring position to end the inning.

Larkins pitched the seventh for the Sox and allowed a one-out triple to Brian Myrow in which he scored on an error by Sox first baseman, Delgado. Palmer Karr came up with a runner on and hit a blast to left for his second homerun of the game. Larkins got a flyout and a strikeout to get out of the inning. The score going into the seventh inning stretch was 9-3. The Airhogs used their first reliever of the game with Derrick Miramontes in the seventh. Miramontes struck out the first batter, walked the next, and then gave up a single to center by Chris Valencia. The next batter, Joe Weik singled in Amarillo's fourth run with a hit to right. The Sox scored another run on a Delgado grounder to second. Chris Grossman came up next and flied to left for the third out with a runner on. The Sox trailed by four into the eighth inning.

A defensive replacement of KC Serna with Adam DeLaGarza at shortstop was the change for the eighth as Matt Larkins stayed in to pitch. Larkins allowed a walk to Nishimoto, the leadoff hitter, who eventually scored on a single over DeLaGarza's leaping attempt at short. Grand Prairie led 10-5 going into the home half of the eighth. Boomer Potts, the left hander, pitched in relief during the eighth and got three strikeouts, while allowing an infield hit to the Sox. Kristhiam Linares started the ninth on the mound for Amarillo and during his first batter faced; Andres Rodriguez would be ejected from the game after repeatedly arguing balls and strikes. Austin Newell came up with a one-two count and reached on an error by Brandon Jones. Linares did not allow the runner to advance however by striking out two and forcing a pop-up. In the ninth, the Sox were able to get a hit and a walk but grounded into their fifth double play to end the game.

Patrick Mincey pitched the ninth for Grand Prairie and allowed no runs on one hit with a walk. Josh Strawn (W, 8-4) went six innings and allowed three runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one. Ryan Mitchell (L, 7-4) pitched five and a third while giving up six runs on seven hits with three errors while he was on the hill.

With the loss, the Sox fall to 37-30, while the Airhogs move to 37-32 on the season. Thursday, the Sox host Grand Prairie for the finale of a four-game series against the Airhogs. Game time is set for 7:05pm with the pre-game show beginning at 6:55pm.

Season tickets are available for purchase in-person by visiting the Sox Front Offices at 801 S. Polk or over the phone by calling (806) 242-4653. For more information on tickets, game times and schedules, promotions, marketing opportunities, and everything else Sox, visit the "Official Website of the Amarillo Sox" at www.amarillosox.com.



American Association Stories from July 31, 2013


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